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Step 1
Talk to the local newspapers in the city where you are trying to find an obituary. Many newspapers have archives that are available to the public free of charge. They contain all sorts of public records printed in the newspaper including obituaries.
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Step 2
Try the public library system. Public libraries often catalog years and years of newspapers on microfilm and other forms of media, making them an invaluable resource when you're doing a free obituary search. Make sure to check with more than one library branch because each one may have different records on hand.
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Step 3
Visit a university or college library. Similar to a public library, college libraries generally have a large amount of historic and newspaper archives on hand. Sometimes they will have archives that the public library doesn't have, so it's usually worth your time to at least call them and see if they have any newspaper or media archives that contain obituaries.
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Step 4
Use the internet to your full advantage. With all of the information out there online it's hard to deny the power that the internet has in terms of research. Looking locally is best by using newspapers and libraries to start, but if you have trouble then the internet may prove to be very useful. Make sure that the sites you are using are legitimate and also be prepared to pay if you want more than just basic information. Realize though, that there is plenty of free information that you can dig up by using Google alone.
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Step 5
Don't give up. It can get tiring searching and searching through newspaper archives for obituaries but don't give up until you've given it your all. Some obituaries just won't be available and some just take a while to find, but it's important that you put forth a reasonable amount of effort before you decide to stop looking.
