When someone dies, the family is often asked to provide two things: a death notice and an obituary. Many people use these terms interchangeably, but they serve different purposes and have different lengths, costs, and audiences.
Understanding the difference — and knowing when you need one, the other, or both — saves time, money, and the stress of trying to write the wrong thing under pressure.
Death Notice vs. Obituary
The simplest way to think about it: a death notice announces what happened. An obituary tells who they were.
| Death Notice | Obituary | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Announce the death and service details | Tell the story of the person's life |
| Length | 50-100 words | 200-900 words |
| Tone | Factual, brief | Personal, narrative |
| Cost | Free to $75 in most papers | $200-$1,000+ (charged by word/inch) |
| Written by | Family or funeral home | Family (or a service like EverWord) |
| Timeline | Published within 1-2 days | Published within days to weeks |
Many families publish the death notice immediately — especially when the service is days away and people need the logistics — and follow with an obituary later. There's no rule that says you need both. A death notice alone is perfectly appropriate.
What to Include in a Death Notice
A death notice is brief by design. Include these elements, in roughly this order:
- Full legal name (and maiden name, if applicable)
- Age at death
- City and state of residence
- Date of death
- Immediate survivors (spouse, children — brief, not exhaustive)
- Service details — date, time, location of visitation, funeral, or memorial
- Burial or cremation (if the family wishes to share)
- Donations in lieu of flowers (if applicable)
- Funeral home name (for inquiries)
That's it. No life story, no accomplishments, no extended family list. Save those for the obituary.
Death Notice Examples
Here are three examples at different levels of detail. All are appropriate — choose the style that fits your family.
Margaret Ann Sullivan, 78, of Hartford, Connecticut, died on April 22, 2026. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Robert, and their three children. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph's Cathedral on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 a.m. Arrangements by Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home.
James "Jimmy" Okafor, 65, of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away peacefully on April 20, 2026, surrounded by his family. A retired teacher who spent 32 years at Westlake High School, he is survived by his wife, Grace, and children David and Amara. Visitation will be held Friday, April 25, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Mitchell-Price Funeral Home. A celebration of life will follow Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Westlake High School Scholarship Fund.
Dorothy Chen, 91, of San Francisco, died April 23, 2026. A private family service will be held. No flowers, please. Donations in her memory may be sent to the San Francisco Public Library.
"A death notice doesn't need to capture who they were. It just needs to tell the community what happened and where to be."
How to Submit a Death Notice
Most families submit death notices through the funeral home, which handles placement with local newspapers. But you can also submit directly:
- Contact the newspaper's obituary/classified department. Most have online submission forms. Large papers have specific obituary desks.
- Ask about deadlines. Daily papers typically need submissions by mid-afternoon for next-day publication. Weekly papers have their own schedules.
- Confirm pricing. Death notices are often free or have a small flat fee. Ask whether there's a word limit for the free tier.
- Request a proof. Before it publishes, ask to see the final version. Errors in death notices — wrong dates, misspelled names — are painful to correct after publication.
If you're managing the aftermath of a death and feeling overwhelmed by all the steps involved, our guide on what to do when someone dies covers everything in order.
The death notice announces the facts. The obituary tells the story.
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When a Death Notice Is Enough
Not every family wants or needs a full obituary. A death notice alone is perfectly appropriate when:
- The person valued privacy and would have preferred a simple announcement
- The family prefers to keep the service small and private
- Budget is a concern — obituaries in major papers can cost hundreds of dollars
- Time is limited and you need something published immediately
You can always publish a death notice now and write an obituary later. There's no deadline on telling someone's story. If you decide to write an obituary, our guide on how to start writing an obituary can help you through the blank-page stage, and our obituary examples show what the finished product can look like.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a death notice and an obituary?
A death notice is a short, factual announcement — typically 50 to 100 words — with the person's name, date of death, and service details. An obituary is longer (200-900 words) and tells the story of the person's life. Death notices are usually free or low-cost; obituaries are paid and cost more because of their length.
How much does a death notice cost?
Many newspapers publish basic death notices for free or for a small fee ($25-$75). Obituaries are charged by the word or column inch and can cost $200-$1,000+. The funeral home can advise on pricing for your local paper and typically handles submission.
Do I need both a death notice and an obituary?
No. A death notice alone is sufficient to announce the death and service details. Many families run a death notice immediately and follow with an obituary later. Some do both; some only one. Choose what serves your family and your budget.
Who writes the death notice?
The funeral home often writes and submits it, since it's primarily factual information they already have. The family can also write it or add a personal line. For the obituary, which requires more personal detail, families write it themselves or use a service like EverWord.
How quickly can a death notice be published?
Most daily newspapers can publish a death notice the next day if submitted before mid-afternoon. Online publications can post them even faster. The funeral home can often expedite this for you.
For more help during this time, see our guide on what to include in an obituary, read about planning a celebration of life, or browse real obituary examples. If writing the obituary feels overwhelming, EverWord can help.