How to Send Out an Obituary
An obituary, which is a written announcement of a person's death, is a way to honor the deceased as well as provide funeral service information to the general public. Obituaries are considered paid advertisements and are usually submitted to newspapers by the attending mortuary. If you would like to send an obituary for publication on your own, you'll need to check the individual newspaper's guidelines in order to ensure your advertisement meets their specifications for print.
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Instructions
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Write the text of the obituary. An obituary generally includes a brief account of the person's life, including year of birth and date of death, family members, special achievements and awards, occupation and funeral service information. There are no specific requirements; your goal is to convey the person's life and meaning to their remaining family and friends.
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Choose which newspaper(s) you'd like the obituary to be printed in. Remember to place the obituary in newspapers around the deceased's hometown as well as their current city of residence at time of death.
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Check the obituary submission guidelines for your target newspaper(s). Visit the obituaries section of the newspaper online and look for the submission instructions. The majority of newspapers provide a fax number and email address for submissions, while others have online forms available.
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Calculate the cost of the obituary you have created by referencing the per line fee. If you are including a photo, the cost of your obituary will be significantly higher.
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Send the obituary so that it will print in the paper two to three days before the funeral service. Check with the newspaper for the submission deadline, which is the time of day your ad must be received in order to print the next day. Include your personal contact information with the obituary, so that you can be contacted with questions.
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Respond promptly to all communication from the newspaper. They may call to verify details, provide a price quote and arrange payment, or confirm a final proof.
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Tips & Warnings
Use an online obituary website in order to easily track down the specific requirements and contact information for each newspaper.
Many newspapers will require confirmation of the death by requesting a copy of the death certificate. In many cases, they will also require a name and phone number for the mortuary handling the deceased.
References
Resources
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