How much does it cost to put an obituary in the newspaper?

It depends on the paper and the length. Starting prices shown on Legacy's newspaper placement pages in November 2026 were $168.85 for the Boston Globe, $263 for the New York Times and $475 for the Washington Post, and longer notices and photos cost more. A memorial page on H Memorials is free, with no length limit.

How soon after a death is the obituary published?

Usually within a few days, so people can see the service details in time. Many families publish a short notice first and a longer life story later.

Does the funeral home write the obituary?

Funeral homes often help and may publish it on their website, but the family usually provides the story and approves the final wording.

What is the difference between an obituary and a death notice?

A death notice is a short announcement with the name, date of death and service details. An obituary tells the story of the person's life.

How to Write an Obituary, Step by Step

To write an obituary, open with their full name, age, city and date of death. Then tell the story of their life in a few short paragraphs, name the family they leave behind, and finish with the service details. Most obituaries run 200 to 400 words. Leave out the full birth date, the mother's maiden name and the home address, which identity thieves look for.

Step by step

1. Gather the facts

Write down their full name and the name people called them, their age, the city where they lived, the date of death, and the names of close family. Confirm spellings with someone who knows them well.

2. Ask for memories

Call two or three people who knew them in different parts of life: a sibling, a coworker, a friend from church. Ask for one story or one thing they will miss. The best line in an obituary often comes from these calls.

3. Write the opening

"[Full name], [age], of [city], passed away on [date]." You can add where they died, for example "at home, surrounded by family." Many families leave the cause of death out, and that is fine.

4. Tell the story

In two or three short paragraphs: where they grew up, the work and the people that shaped their life, their faith or service, and what they loved. Specific details beat general praise. "She never missed a grandchild's game" says more than "she was devoted."

5. Name the family

"[Name] is survived by" lists the living family, usually spouse first, then children and their spouses, grandchildren, siblings. "Preceded in death by" lists close family who died before them. If the list is long, group it: "eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren."

6. Give the service details

The type of service, day, date, time and place, plus the burial and reception if they are public. Add "in lieu of flowers" wishes here if the family has them.

7. Read it aloud, then share it

Read it to one family member before you publish. Check every name and date. Then post it where people will see it.

What to leave out

The full date of birth. Give the age instead.
The mother's maiden name, which banks use as a security question.
The home address. A street address next to the service time tells strangers when the house will be empty.
To be safest, AARP and the FBI also suggest leaving out the middle name and birthplace.

Where to post an obituary

A free memorial page: no length limit, room for the service times, photos and memories, and one link to text to everyone. Make one on H Memorials.
The funeral home's website: often included in the funeral home's services.
The newspaper: paid, priced by length. See the costs in the questions below.
Social media: a short version with a link to the full obituary.

How to Write an Obituary