Have you ever searched for obituaries of your ancestors or a loved one in California? Newspapers publish obituaries as paid announcements to share information about a person's life and death. It is a part of our culture to commemorate the life of a person who has passed away by writing about the person's life and achievements in a tribute. Losing a loved one is painful. Although obituaries focus on remembrance, they also serve a practical purpose of informing people, especially those outside the community, of the death of a person.
In the past, people relied on local newspapers to find obituaries. However, with the advent of the internet, you can now search obituaries online. This is especially helpful if you are looking for obituaries from a distant location or if you want to find obituaries from a long time ago.
There are different ways to search California obituaries online. Our comprehensive guide will guide you through these services to find obituaries by last name in California.
california obituaries by last name
Locate ancestors & loved ones in California.
- Search obituaries online
- Use a paid obituary service
- Check local newspapers
- Visit the funeral home
- Contact the county clerk
These resources can help you find the obituary you're looking for.
Search obituaries online
Searching obituaries online is a convenient way to find obituaries from the comfort of your own home. There are a number of websites that offer obituary search services. Some of the most popular websites include:
- Legacy.com
- Findagrave.com
- Obits.com
- Newspaper websites
To search for an obituary on one of these websites, simply enter the person's name and location in the search bar. You can also filter your search by date range or keyword. Once you have found an obituary that you are interested in, you can click on it to read the full text.
Some websites also offer paid obituary services. These services typically allow you to create a personalized obituary for your loved one, which can include photos, videos, and music. You can also share the obituary with friends and family members via email or social media.
Searching obituaries online can be a helpful way to learn more about your ancestors or loved ones. It can also be a comforting way to remember those who have passed away.
Here are some tips for searching obituaries online:
- Use a variety of search terms. Try searching by the person's full name, nickname, or maiden name. You can also search by keywords related to the person's life, such as their occupation, hobbies, or military service.
- Expand your search. If you can't find an obituary for the person you are looking for, try searching in different locations. The person may have died in a different city or state than where they lived.
- Be patient. It may take some time to find the obituary you are looking for. Don't give up if you don't find it right away.
Use a paid obituary service
Paid obituary services offer a number of benefits over free obituary search services. These benefits typically include:
- More comprehensive search results. Paid obituary services have access to a wider range of obituary databases than free services. This means that you are more likely to find the obituary you are looking for.
- Personalized obituary creation. Paid obituary services typically allow you to create a personalized obituary for your loved one. This can include photos, videos, and music. You can also share the obituary with friends and family members via email or social media.
- Customer support. Paid obituary services typically offer customer support to help you with your search. This can be helpful if you are having trouble finding an obituary or if you have any questions about the process.
The cost of a paid obituary service varies depending on the company you choose and the services you select. However, most services offer a range of packages to fit different budgets.
If you are looking for a comprehensive obituary search service with personalized features and customer support, then a paid obituary service may be a good option for you.
Here are some tips for choosing a paid obituary service:
- Compare prices and services. Be sure to compare the prices and services offered by different companies before you make a decision.
- Read reviews. See what other people have to say about the company's services before you sign up.
- Ask about customer support. Make sure the company offers customer support in case you have any questions or problems.
Check local newspapers
Local newspapers are a good source of obituaries, especially for people who died in the local area. To find an obituary in a local newspaper, you can either visit the newspaper's website or go to the library and look through the microfilm archives.
If you are visiting the newspaper's website, simply use the search bar to search for the person's name. You can also filter your search by date range or keyword. Once you have found an obituary that you are interested in, you can click on it to read the full text.
If you are going to the library to look through the microfilm archives, you will need to know the date of the person's death. Once you have the date, you can ask a librarian to help you find the microfilm reel that contains the newspaper for that date. Once you have found the microfilm reel, you can use the microfilm reader to search for the obituary.
Checking local newspapers can be a good way to find obituaries for people who died in the local area. However, it is important to note that not all newspapers publish obituaries. Additionally, some newspapers may only publish obituaries for subscribers.
Here are some tips for checking local newspapers for obituaries:
- Check both the print and online editions of the newspaper. Some newspapers only publish obituaries in the print edition, while others only publish them online.
- Use a variety of search terms. Try searching by the person's full name, nickname, or maiden name. You can also search by keywords related to the person's life, such as their occupation, hobbies, or military service.
- Expand your search. If you can't find an obituary for the person you are looking for in one newspaper, try checking other local newspapers.
Visit the funeral home
Funeral homes often have copies of obituaries for people who have died in their care. This is because funeral homes typically handle the arrangements for publishing obituaries in local newspapers.
- Contact the funeral home. You can call or visit the funeral home to inquire about obituaries. Be sure to have the person's name and date of death ready.
- Ask for a copy of the obituary. If the funeral home has a copy of the obituary, they will usually be happy to provide you with a copy.
- Check the funeral home's website. Some funeral homes have websites where they post obituaries. You can check the funeral home's website to see if the obituary you are looking for is available online.
- Attend the funeral or memorial service. If you are unable to obtain a copy of the obituary, you can attend the funeral or memorial service. The obituary will usually be read aloud during the service.
Visiting the funeral home can be a good way to obtain a copy of an obituary. However, it is important to note that not all funeral homes keep copies of obituaries. Additionally, some funeral homes may charge a fee for providing a copy of an obituary.
Contact the county clerk
The county clerk's office is another good source of obituaries. This is because death certificates are filed with the county clerk's office. Once a death certificate is filed, the county clerk's office will typically make a copy of the obituary and file it with the death certificate.
To obtain a copy of an obituary from the county clerk's office, you will need to know the person's name and date of death. You can also search for obituaries by date range or keyword. Once you have found the obituary you are looking for, you can request a copy from the county clerk's office.
There may be a fee for obtaining a copy of an obituary from the county clerk's office. The fee varies from county to county. You can contact the county clerk's office to find out the fee in your county.
Contacting the county clerk's office can be a good way to obtain a copy of an obituary. However, it is important to note that not all county clerk's offices keep copies of obituaries. Additionally, some county clerk's offices may only keep copies of obituaries for a limited period of time.
Here are some tips for contacting the county clerk's office to obtain a copy of an obituary:
- Find the right county clerk's office. The county clerk's office that you need to contact is the one in the county where the person died.
- Contact the county clerk's office. You can call or visit the county clerk's office to inquire about obituaries. Be sure to have the person's name and date of death ready.
- Request a copy of the obituary. If the county clerk's office has a copy of the obituary, they will usually be happy to provide you with a copy.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about finding obituaries by last name in California:
Question 1: What is the easiest way to find an obituary by last name in California?
Answer: The easiest way to find an obituary by last name in California is to use an online obituary search service. There are a number of websites that offer this service, such as Legacy.com and Findagrave.com.
Question 2: Can I find obituaries in local newspapers?
Answer: Yes, you can find obituaries in local newspapers. However, it is important to note that not all newspapers publish obituaries. Additionally, some newspapers may only publish obituaries for subscribers.
Question 3: Can I obtain a copy of an obituary from the funeral home?
Answer: Yes, you can often obtain a copy of an obituary from the funeral home. However, it is important to note that not all funeral homes keep copies of obituaries. Additionally, some funeral homes may charge a fee for providing a copy of an obituary.
Question 4: Can I obtain a copy of an obituary from the county clerk's office?
Answer: Yes, you can often obtain a copy of an obituary from the county clerk's office. However, it is important to note that not all county clerk's offices keep copies of obituaries. Additionally, some county clerk's offices may only keep copies of obituaries for a limited period of time.
Question 5: What information do I need to provide in order to obtain a copy of an obituary?
Answer: In order to obtain a copy of an obituary, you will typically need to provide the person's name and date of death. You may also need to provide the name of the funeral home or the county where the person died.
Question 6: Is there a fee for obtaining a copy of an obituary?
Answer: There may be a fee for obtaining a copy of an obituary. The fee varies depending on the source of the obituary. Some funeral homes and county clerk's offices may charge a fee for providing a copy of an obituary.
Question 7: What if I can't find an obituary for the person I'm looking for?
Answer: If you can't find an obituary for the person you're looking for, you can try contacting the person's family or friends. You can also try searching for the person's name in online death records or genealogy databases.
We hope this FAQ has been helpful. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.
In addition to the information provided in the FAQ, here are some additional tips for finding obituaries by last name in California:
Tips
Here are some tips for finding obituaries by last name in California:
Tip 1: Use a variety of search terms. When searching for an obituary online, try using a variety of search terms. This includes the person's full name, nickname, maiden name, and any other names that they may have used. You can also search by keywords related to the person's life, such as their occupation, hobbies, or military service.
Tip 2: Expand your search. If you can't find an obituary for the person you are looking for in one location, try expanding your search. The person may have died in a different city or state than where they lived. You can also try searching in different newspapers or online obituary databases.
Tip 3: Contact the funeral home or county clerk's office. If you are unable to find an obituary online, you can try contacting the funeral home or county clerk's office where the person died. They may have a copy of the obituary on file.
Tip 4: Be patient. It may take some time to find the obituary you are looking for. Don't give up if you don't find it right away. Keep searching and eventually you will find it.
We hope these tips have been helpful. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.
Finding an obituary can be a helpful way to learn more about a person's life and death. It can also be a comforting way to remember those who have passed away.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed how to find obituaries by last name in California. We have provided information on a variety of resources that can be used to find obituaries, including online obituary search services, local newspapers, funeral homes, and county clerk's offices.
We have also provided some tips for finding obituaries, such as using a variety of search terms, expanding your search, and being patient. We hope that this information has been helpful.
Finding an obituary can be a helpful way to learn more about a person's life and death. It can also be a comforting way to remember those who have passed away. We encourage you to use the resources and tips that we have provided to find the obituaries that you are looking for.