How to Write a Death Notice: Format, Examples, and What to Include

By Susan Jackson · Published 2026-05-30 · 8 min read

A practical guide to writing a death notice — what it is, how it differs from an obituary, what to include, sample templates, and how much it costs to publish in 2026.

A death notice is the short, factual announcement that someone has died — typically published in a local newspaper, on a funeral home's website, or on social media within a day or two of death. It is not the same as an obituary, and it serves a different purpose: to inform the community, share funeral details, and create a brief, dignified public record.

This guide explains what a death notice is, what it must and should include, what it costs in 2026, and gives you ready-to-use templates.

What you need to know in 30 seconds

• A death notice is short (usually 50-150 words) and purely factual. It announces the death and shares service details.
• An obituary is longer (300-1,500+ words) and includes biography, accomplishments, family relationships, and personal qualities.
• A death notice typically costs $50-$500 to publish in a daily newspaper, depending on length, region, and whether a photo is included.
• Most funeral homes will draft and publish a basic death notice for free as part of their service.
• The death notice is what triggers social media awareness, sympathy cards, food deliveries, and out-of-town family travel — get it out within 24-48 hours when possible.

Death notice vs. obituary

This distinction matters, and most families don't realize there is one.

Many families publish both — a short death notice in the daily newspaper for cost efficiency, plus a longer obituary on the funeral home website or as a separate paid notice on a Sunday.

What to include in a death notice

The standard structure has six elements:

1. Full name of the deceased (including maiden name and nicknames)
2. Age and date of death (and sometimes place — city, state)
3. Brief family identification (e.g., "beloved husband of Mary," "father of two")
4. Service information (date, time, location of visitation, funeral, and burial)
5. In lieu of flowers instruction, if any (donation request)
6. Funeral home name and contact

That's it. Anything beyond this is moving into obituary territory.

Sample death notice templates

Template 1: Standard short notice

SMITH, John Robert — Age 78, of Springfield, MA, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Beloved husband of Margaret (Walsh) Smith, devoted father of John Jr. (Lisa) and Karen (Michael) Anderson, and proud grandfather of five. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, May 30, at 10:00 AM at St. Anne's Catholic Church, Springfield. Visitation will be held Friday from 4-7 PM at Riley Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements by Riley Funeral Home, Springfield. www.rileyfh.com

Template 2: With cause indicated (optional and family's choice)

JOHNSON, Maria Elena — 64, of Austin, TX, passed away on May 28, 2026, after a courageous battle with ALS. Loving wife of Carlos Johnson, mother of Daniel and Sofia, and grandmother to two. Memorial service Friday, June 6, at 11:00 AM at Mission Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the ALS Association. Arrangements by Mission Funeral Home.

Template 3: Private services

WILLIAMS, Robert "Bob" — Age 81, of Brooklyn, NY, died May 27, 2026. Husband of the late Helen Williams; father of Patricia (James) Conner and Robert Williams Jr. Services will be held privately. Memorial contributions may be made to the Brooklyn Public Library Foundation. Arrangements by Greene Funeral Home.

Template 4: With multiple service events

CHEN, Wei "Grace" — 72, of San Francisco, CA, passed away on May 29, 2026. Beloved wife of David Chen, mother of Lisa Chen-Park (Daniel) and Michael Chen (Sarah), grandmother of four. Visitation Wednesday, June 4, 5-8 PM at Halsted Funeral Home. Funeral service Thursday, June 5, 11:00 AM at First Presbyterian Church of San Francisco. Burial to follow at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations to UCSF Cancer Center.

Template 5: Brief, no service details yet

MARTINEZ, Carlos — Age 56, of Phoenix, AZ, passed away May 28, 2026. Survived by his wife Ana, son Diego, and daughter Camila. Service arrangements pending and will be announced. Arrangements by Sunset Funeral Home, Phoenix.

Word-by-word breakdown

Name

Use the full legal name, with the surname first in capital letters (newspaper convention). Include:

• Maiden name in parentheses: WALSH-SMITH, Margaret Anne (Walsh)
• Nickname in quotes: SMITH, John "Jack" Robert
• Suffix where relevant: SMITH, John Robert Jr.

Age and date

Standard phrasing:

• "Age 78, of Springfield, MA, passed away on May 26, 2026."
• "Died peacefully at home on May 26, 2026, age 78."
• "Passed away surrounded by his family on May 26, 2026, at age 78."

You may include a location (home, hospital, hospice) but are not required to.

Family identification

Mention spouse and children at minimum; include grandchildren, parents, and siblings as space allows.

• "Beloved husband of [name]"
• "Devoted father of [names]"
• "Cherished grandfather of [number]"
• "Predeceased by [name(s)]" — for family members who died before
• "Survived by [names]" — for those still living

Service details

Include date, time, full street address (or church/funeral home name), and any visitation or burial details.

If services are private, simply say "Services will be held privately" or "A private family service will take place."

"In lieu of flowers"

This is optional but very common. Phrasing:

• "In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to [organization name]."
• "Memorial contributions in [name]'s honor may be made to [organization]."
• "The family requests that donations be made to [organization] in [name]'s memory."

Include the website if space allows.

Funeral home

Always list the funeral home handling arrangements. This is both a courtesy and a practical note — readers may want to send flowers or cards.

What to leave out of a death notice

• Cause of death — Optional. Many families include for natural causes ("after a long illness," "peacefully at home") but leave out for sudden, traumatic, or sensitive deaths.
• Detailed biography — Save for the obituary.
• Photos — Most newspapers charge extra for a photo; standard death notices are text only.
• Religious or political statements — Keep neutral; the obituary is the place for those.

What it costs in 2026

Death notice publication costs vary widely:

• Funeral home website: usually free as part of services.
• Local weekly newspaper: $50-$150 for a basic notice.
• Major metro daily newspaper: $150-$500 for a basic notice; $500-$2,000+ for a longer paid obituary with photo.
• Legacy.com, Tributes.com, and similar national aggregators: usually pulled from the funeral home website automatically, no additional cost.

If cost is a concern, ask the funeral home to publish a short notice on their website (free) and skip the paid newspaper notice. You can always share the funeral home's notice link on social media for free.

How to publish a death notice

1. Ask the funeral home first. Most will draft and submit a basic notice on your behalf as part of their service package.
2. Decide on the publication. Pick the newspaper(s) most relevant to the deceased's life — typically the city they lived in, but sometimes also where they grew up or a city where many of their friends still live.
3. Submit by the deadline. Daily newspapers usually have a 24-hour lead time and a hard deadline (often 2-3 PM) for the next day's edition. Weekend editions fill up faster.
4. Approve the proof. Most newspapers email or fax a proof before publication. Review carefully — typos in a death notice are heartbreaking to discover later.
5. Share the link. Once published online, the death notice URL becomes the easiest way to share details on social media, email, and text.

Sample timeline

• Day 0 (death): Notify immediate family. Contact funeral home.
• Day 1: Funeral home drafts a basic death notice. Family reviews, adds family member names, and confirms service details if known.
• Day 1-2: Notice is published on funeral home website and submitted to local newspaper.
• Day 2-3: Notice appears in print. Family shares link on social media. Distant friends and extended family begin to learn.
• Day 2-7: Longer obituary (if separate) is written and submitted.

Final principle

A death notice has a single job: let the people who knew the deceased find out, quickly and respectfully, with enough information to attend services and send condolences. Keep it short. Keep it factual. The full story of the life belongs in the obituary — and in the memories of everyone the death notice reaches.

Published by Afterly Plan. This article is for general informational purposes and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.