How can I find a copy of an obituary without getting charged?

Answer 1

Without knowing how long ago the obituary was it's hard to answer. If the death was recent, you can see if the newspaper has it online (usually only free for 15 days). If it's more than a year old, then most papers are microfilmed and you can go to a library and look it up. If you aren't in the same area as where the obituary was published, then you might try calling the local library where it was published and ask the librarian to make you a copy. They will often do this for free if you know the exact date of death.

Sometimes, you can find the obituary on google. When this happens, even if the paper charges to see the obituary, google may have a copy of it in their "cache" and you can view it anyway.

If it's a very old obituary, you can try searching for the person on the genealogical sites like ancestry.com or the Family History center. If you find someone who is researching the same family, often they may already have the obituary, or may even have listed it online.

Don't forget when searching for the person on any search engine to put the name in quotes to narrow your search down a lot!. And try listing the name as 'last, first' too - as often you can find the name that way.

And one last tip - if you know where the person was buried, ask the mortuary office there (if there is one). They often will have the obituary on the plot card for newer plots.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, I had to do that today. I searched on yahoo for the paper I wanted to find the obituary in and found their web site. I then located obituaries and inserted the date. If it's a death from long ago you can go back a couple of years. Lots of Luck, sorry you have to go there.

Answer 3

Question is - where?

If you mean in a News Paper, look for the online version that they usually have. Go to the Date you know the Obituary appeared and the relevant page. Save the page as a Web Page, as this is the smallest size file that can later be converted to word or whatever you want.

Hope this helps.

All the best.

Answer 4

Library

Answer 5

It depends on how old it is. Your library ought to have it on microfilm. You can look it up easily by date. If it is fairly recent, in the last couple of years, it is probably in the archives on your newspaper's website and can be accessed and printed for free. Otherwise, you probably will have to purchase it from the newspaper. It should not cost very much.

Answer 6

Try to find the local newspapers website, or go to the public records locally or on the internet.

Answer 7

Here are 3 free obit search sites for you to try. I have used ancestor hunt and obit central, and my friend says genealogy is a good one to use but I have not yet done so. Successful hunting!

Answer 8

try looking up the newspapers website