Massachusetts Obituaries (2024)

FAQs

How can I find out if someone died in Massachusetts? ›

Massachusetts State Law: "Chapter 46: Return and Registry of Births, Marriages, and Deaths" states death records are public records. "Death certificates are public record, so any member of the public can obtain a copy at the city or town clerk's office where the death occurred."

Obituaries in Massachusetts and other parts of New England can generally be found in the local town or county papers. Many obituaries for Boston and the surrounding area can be found in: Boston Athenaeum. Index of Obituaries in Boston Newspapers, 1704-1800.

Many funeral homes publish obituaries on their websites. These can usually be located with a Google search on the person's name. Local genealogical and historical societies, public libraries, and some newspaper publishers maintain clipping files of obituaries.

The local courthouse is another resource for finding out if someone died. A will enters the public record after the probate process is complete, and records will be available at the courthouse. However, as probate can sometimes be a long process, it may be some time before a courthouse will have this information.

Usually people include names of a spouse, parents, children (with any spouse's names listed in parenthesis), grandchildren and great grandchildren. You may choose to list grandchildren and great grandchildren individually by name, or simply include the number of each.

There is no hard and fast rule as to who should give the eulogy speech at a funeral. It's typically given by those who were particularly close, or had a special relationship with, the loved one who passed. It could be a best friend, a spouse, a child or grandchild, or even a co-worker.

Legacy.com. Search the world's largest obituary database.

MyObits: Obituary Listings on the App Store.

How do I find an obituary for a specific person on Ancestry? ›

With a name and general publication date, you can start searching obituary records like the Newspapers.com Obituary Index: 1800s to current on Ancestry now.

When writing an obituary, leave out details that could be used for identity theft, such as the deceased's date and place of birth, middle name, maiden name and mother's maiden name. And don't include the deceased's home address.

Publishing an obituary is a time-sensitive process–you should try to have it written and posted within a week of the deceased's passing. This goes for obituaries published both online and in print. If the obituary includes funeral details, you must publish it at least three days before the funeral.

If you like to be technical, names should be listed as follows: first name, spouse's first name in parenthesis, then surname (ex: Tom (Sarah) Johnson). If the spouse or partner's surname is different, include their surname in the parenthesis along with their first name (ex: Tom (Sarah Williams) Johnson).

The best way to get accurate information about a deceased person is with deceased public records. Accessing comprehensive personal information, like addresses and assets, is important to gather a full picture of a person's life.

The Registry of Vital Records (RVRS) preserves Massachusetts vital records for documentation and research. You can request certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce records that are open to the public.

When someone dies at home, the first step is to call the GP. The GP will normally visit the house and if the death was expected, issue a certificate giving the cause of death. If the person did not have a GP or you do not know the name of the GP, you should call an ambulance instead.