Obituaries | Death Notices | Newspaper Obituaries | Online Obituaries | Newspaper Death Notices

FAQ

So that you can find the information you need as quickly as possible, this page includes answers to the most common questions about obituaries and Guest Books.

We recommend that you check the following links for help before contacting Legacy.com. While our customer service team responds to e-mails very quickly (typically within 1 business day), you may find your answer even faster by checking below.

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How can I find an obituary or Guest Book?
To locate an obituary or Guest Book, begin at our homepage, www.legacy.com.

Notice the “Search Obituaries” box in the upper-right corner of the screen. Type in the deceased’s first and last name into the search boxes (only the last name is required, but entering a first name will help narrow your results). Once you’ve entered this information, click the green arrow to the right.

This will lead you to a list of people sharing the deceased’s name. Click on the highlighted name of the person you are looking for, and the obituary will be displayed.

If the obituary includes a Guest Book, you will see a “Guest Book” link. Clicking on it will allow you to view all current entries and add your own.

Other topics that may help you:
How can I sign a Guest Book?
To sign a Guest Book, first locate the obituary or death notice. If the obituary includes a Guest Book, you will see a “View/Sign Guest Book” link. Clicking this link will bring you to the page where you can view all current entries. A button labeled “Sign this Guest Book” or “Sign” will be at the top of the Guest Book page. When you click this button, you will come to a page where you can enter your message.

After you type your message, click “Next” or “Preview.” This will bring you to a preview of your Guest Book entry. You can make changes or corrections to your entry by clicking “Edit.” When you are satisfied with the appearance of your entry, you can complete the process by clicking “Submit,” located below the preview of your entry. You must click “Submit” to complete your entry.

Please note that entries do not appear online immediately. All entries are reviewed for appropriate content and typically appear online within a few hours.

Other topics that may help you:
I have signed a Guest Book, but I don’t see my entry online. Where is it?
All Guest Book entries are screened by our staff for appropriate content before being placed online.

Please allow 24 hours for review, and then check the Guest Book for your entry. If you don't see your entry after 24 hours, and you believe it meets our guidelines, please contact us with your name, the full name of the deceased and the date of your entry. We will be happy to investigate the status of your entry.

Other topics that may help you:
- How can I find an obituary or Guest Book?
- How can I find older obituaries?
How can I keep a Guest Book online longer?
To sponsor a Guest Book, please click “Keep This Guest Book Open” or “Keep This Guest Book Online” at the right side of the Guest Book. This will take you to a page that outlines your options for extending the Guest Book past the current expiration date and allows you to place an order online.

If you do not see this link, the Guest Book has already been sponsored.

If the Guest Book has already been sponsored for one year and you would like to extend it further, please check the Guest Book approximately 5 days before the current sponsorship is due to expire. At that time, there will be a link on the Guest Book page to extend the sponsorship.

Other topics that may help you:
- How can I restore a Guest Book that is no longer online?
How can I restore a Guest Book that is no longer online?
Even after a Guest Book expires, we retain all Guest Book entries that have appeared online. If you would like to restore a Guest Book that is no longer online, you can do so by purchasing a paid sponsorship. If you are interested in this option, please contact us with your name, your telephone number and the name of the deceased. Our staff will call to assist you in restoring the Guest Book, including all previous entries.

Other topics that may help you:
- How can I find an obituary or Guest Book?
- How can I find older obituaries?
How can I get a printed copy of a Guest Book?
A printed Commemorative Guest Book may be purchased in a hardcover or softcover format. The Commemorative Guest Book is a full-color, professionally printed and bound keepsake that contains all of the entries currently in the online Guest Book and will arrive within 10-14 business days.

For more information or to purchase, please visit the Guest Book and click the link “Professionally Printed Guest Book” or “Purchase.”

To print a copy of the Guest Book, you may click on the “Printer-Friendly Format” link in the Guest Book.

Other topics that may help you:
- How can I find an obituary or Guest Book?
- How can I restore a Guest Book that is no longer online?
How can I find older obituaries?
Our database includes recent obituaries from newspapers and funeral homes nationwide. However, we do not maintain a historical archive of obituaries.

If you are unable to locate the obituary you are seeking with a name search on Legacy.com, you may be able to locate it in the local newspaper’s online archives. For more information on searching a newspaper’s archives, please contact the newspaper directly.

For obituaries published prior to the start date of a newspaper's archives, you may be able to find help at a public library, many of which maintain historical newspaper archives.

Other topics that may help you:
- How can I find an obituary or Guest Book?
What if I have another question?

If you have a question that is not addressed on this page, please send us an e-mail. Our staff will be happy to assist you. We generally respond to all inquiries within one business day.