How to Write an Obituary: A Step-by-Step Guide
Looking for someone’s obituary instead? See how to find an obituary.
To write an obituary, start with the facts: the person’s full name, age, date of death, and hometown. Then add a short life story, list the surviving family, and finish with the service details. Many obituaries run 200 to 500 words, though a newspaper that charges by the line may need a shorter one.
Writing an obituary while you are grieving is hard. An obituary tells people that someone has died and where the service will be held, and it also gives you a chance to honor the person’s life and what they will be remembered for. This guide covers what to include, what to leave out, and how to put it together.
How to Write an Obituary in Six Steps
Gather the facts first
Collect the person’s full legal name (and any nickname they went by), age, dates of birth and death, and city of residence. Add the names of surviving and predeceased family members and the details of any service. Ask a relative to confirm spellings and dates before you start writing.
Announce the death
Open with a clear statement that the person has died, including their full name, age, and town of residence. Anyone who comes across the obituary should understand right away who has passed and, if there is one, that a service will be held. For example: “Maria Lopez, 82, of Tucson, Arizona, died peacefully on March 3, 2026.”
Write a short life story
This is where you tell readers who the person was. Mention where they were born and raised, their family, their work, and anything they cared about, such as hobbies, faith, favorite places, or what they were proudest of. Pick the details that capture their spirit rather than listing everything, and avoid unnecessary detail. Choose a tone that fits the person and the family, and keep it respectful.
List the surviving and predeceased family
It is customary to list surviving family members, starting with the spouse, then children in birth order. Grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, parents, and in-laws can follow, also in birth order. Family members who died before the person are usually introduced with “preceded in death by.”
Add the service details
Include the date, time, and location of the visitation, service, and burial, along with any request for donations or flowers. If the service is private, say so, so readers do not show up expecting to attend.
Review before you publish
Read the obituary aloud and check every name, date, and spelling. Ask a second family member to read it as well. If you plan to submit it to a newspaper, check its length limits and price first.
What Not to Include in an Obituary
- The full home address. Include the city or town only. Publishing a street address can invite problems while the family is at the service.
- Phone numbers. Use a funeral home contact if readers need to reach someone.
- The cause of death. Including it is entirely up to the family, so weigh the pros and cons before you decide.
- A full career or education history. These are optional. Include them only if they say something about who the person was.
- First-person writing. An obituary is a public notice, not a personal tribute, so write it in the third person. Save personal memories for the eulogy.
Tips for Writing a Meaningful Obituary
- Put the most important facts first. Name, age, date of death, and town should come before the life story, so readers get what they need right away.
- Write in the past tense. An obituary describes a life that has ended, so use the past tense when you talk about the person.
- Focus on what made them unique. Describe the traits you loved and why they were unforgettable, instead of listing facts that could describe anyone.
- Ask for help. A funeral home, a professional writer, or a family member can help you write or edit it. Our obituary templates give you a starting point, and our guide to the anatomy of an obituary shows how others structure theirs.
Where to Publish an Obituary
Most families publish in more than one place. Funeral homes usually post obituaries on their own websites and can submit them to newspapers for you. Local newspapers, in print and online, remain common, though many charge by the line or word. You can also submit an obituary on FuneralHomes.com, where visitors can search obituaries by name.
Final Thoughts
Let your heart guide you as you write. The best obituary is not the longest or the most polished, but the one that sounds like the person it honors. If you want help with the rest of the arrangements, our funeral planning checklist lists the next steps, and you can find a funeral home near you to help with the service. You can also browse funeral homes by state, including Texas, Florida, California, and New York.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you write an obituary?
Announce the death, give the full name, age, and town of residence, write a short life story, list surviving and predeceased family, and add the time and place of any service.
How do you start an obituary?
Open with the person’s full name, age, town of residence, and date of death, stated plainly. For example: “Maria Lopez, 82, of Tucson, Arizona, died peacefully on March 3, 2026.”
What should be included in an obituary?
The announcement of death, full name and age, city of residence, a brief biography, surviving family members, and service details.
How do you write an obituary for a family member?
Start with the basic facts, then pick two or three qualities, memories, or accomplishments that show who they were. Ask relatives to confirm names, dates, and spellings before you finish.
What are the guidelines for writing an obituary?
Put the key facts first, write in the third person and the past tense, and keep the tone respectful. Leave out the home address and phone numbers, and check every name and date before you publish. Including the cause of death is optional.
How long should an obituary be?
Many run 200 to 500 words. Check the length and cost limits of any newspaper you plan to use.
Do you have to include the cause of death?
No. Including it is entirely up to the family.
