How to Track Obituaries Online
Whether you're researching family history, managing client estates, or simply trying to stay informed about someone's passing, there are several ways to track obituaries online. This guide walks you through each method—from free manual searches to automated "set and forget" monitoring.
The bottom line: Manual searching works for one-time lookups. But if you need to monitor a name over time, automated tracking saves hours of effort and ensures you don't miss anything.
Step 1: Try Manual Online Searches
The most basic approach is to manually search obituary sources:
- Local newspaper websites - Most newspapers publish obituaries online
- Legacy.com - Large obituary aggregator with nationwide coverage
- Funeral home websites - Often publish obituaries for their services
- Google search - Search "[Name] obituary [City]" for recent notices
Pros: Free, no setup required
Cons: Time-consuming, easy to miss notices, requires daily effort
Step 2: Set Up Google Alerts (Optional)
You can set up Google Alerts to notify you when a name appears online:
- Go to google.com/alerts
- Enter the person's name in quotes: "John Smith"
- Add "obituary" to the search to filter results
- Set your email frequency preference
Pros: Free, automated
Cons: High false positive rate, doesn't scan all obituary sources, common names trigger too many alerts
Step 3: Use Automated Obituary Monitoring (Recommended)
Purpose-built services like ObituaryMonitor are designed specifically for this task:
- Scan 2,500+ dedicated obituary sources (not general web pages)
- Use multiple matching criteria (name, location, age) to reduce false positives
- Only alert you when confidence is high (90%+)
- Run continuously, 24/7, so you never miss a notice
Pros: High accuracy, comprehensive coverage, saves hours of time
Cons: Monthly subscription cost (starting at $14.95/mo)
Comparison: Which Method is Best?
| Method | Cost | Accuracy | Time Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual Search | Free | Low | High |
| Google Alerts | Free | Low-Medium | Low |
| ObituaryMonitor | $14.95/mo | High (90%+) | None |
The Professional Choice
For probate attorneys, estate attorneys, and anyone who needs reliable obituary tracking, a dedicated monitoring service provides the best combination of accuracy and convenience. Compare all monitoring options to find the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to track obituaries online?
The most comprehensive approach is using an automated obituary monitoring service that scans 2,500+ sources 24/7 and sends alerts when matches are found. Manual searching is less reliable due to fragmented sources and timing uncertainty.
Can I use Google Alerts to track obituaries?
Google Alerts can catch some obituaries but has significant gaps. It doesn't index many funeral home websites directly and may miss time-sensitive obituary publications. Dedicated obituary monitoring services have much broader coverage.
How often should I check for obituaries manually?
If searching manually, checking daily for the first 1-2 weeks after a suspected death is recommended. However, obituaries can appear anywhere from same-day to weeks later, making sustained manual checking impractical.
Are there free obituary tracking services?
Some basic services offer limited free monitoring, but comprehensive coverage typically requires a paid subscription. Free options often have limited source coverage and may miss many obituaries.