Precise first. You decide the threshold.
Every candidate obituary is scored against the details you give us. Wrong names are discarded outright; everything else has to earn its confidence.
Robert L. Hayes → fictional notice: Bob Hayes, 71, Tulsa
What we compare.
First and last name
Last names must match (small typo tolerance on long surnames; maiden names when you give one). First names match exactly or by common nickname, like William and Bill.
Location
State is a core signal. City, metro, and county matches add confidence. Secondary locations cover people who moved or died away from home.
Age or birth year
A matching birth year adds confidence. A clear age conflict can disqualify a candidate, which matters most for common names.
Relatives
Spouse, children, and other relatives you list are checked against the names in the obituary.
Middle name or initial
Raises confidence when it lines up, and helps separate people with the same name.
The threshold
Alerts start at 90% by default. Raise it for fewer, surer alerts or lower it to review more possible matches.
What a result means.
Improve your matches
- Add a city or state, even an old one
- Add a birth year or age range
- List a spouse or child
- Use the middle name or initial
Where matching is strong, and where it isn’t.
Coverage
- Funeral-home websites and newspaper obituary sections (17,565+ sources)
- Strongest on recent deaths and enrolled funeral-home sites
- Every match linked to its source for review
Limits
- Complete national coverage: some deaths never get an online obituary
- Proof that someone is alive
- A substitute for official records when a decision depends on it
Can I change the 90% threshold?
Yes. 90% is the default. You can raise or lower it, and lower-scoring candidates can still be reviewed in your account.
Why didn’t I get an alert for a common name?
Common names need more detail. Add a city, birth year, or relative so the right person scores above your threshold.
Do you use government death records?
No. We use public obituaries from funeral-home websites and newspapers. No SSDI, Death Master File, or restricted vital records.
What happens to my data if I cancel?
Retention periods are set out in our Privacy Policy.