Deceased & Graves
When someone in the family has died — recently or decades ago — the records are public, and most of them are online. This hub covers the four layers of the search: the obituary, which says where the person went; the death record, which settles dates; the burial record, which confirms where the body was laid; and the grave databases, which let you find the stone without leaving the house. Nothing here requires a subscription to start. The free indexes come first because they usually answer the question, and the paid platforms become worth their money only after the free layer runs dry.
How to find an obituary or death notice from any US state
Practical steps for finding US obituaries — Legacy.com, newspapers, historical archives, funeral home sites, and the records behind recent deaths.
How to find burial records online: a step-by-step process
The step-by-step process for finding burial records online — volunteer databases, the Social Security Death Index, county registers, and cemetery offices.
The best free sites for finding a grave or burial record
Free ways to locate a grave, cemetery, or burial record in the US — Find a Grave, BillionGraves, the VA locator, and the county offices behind them.