Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Death Notices

 

Q. How do I publish a death notice in The Washington Post?

The primary way to submit your notice is through our self-service portal:

washingtonpost.com/deathnotices

 

For support, please email deathnotices@washpost.com or call 202-334-4122.

If no agent is available, please leave a voicemail and a representative will return your call.

 

Q. Where do death notices appear?

Death notices will appear in:

- The Washington Post print edition (if that package is selected)

- Online at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/

- In our 3x weekly newsletter Lives Remembered which you can sign up for here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/lives-remembered/

 

All notices published in print will also appear on Legacy.com at midnight on the publication date.

 

Q. What is the difference between an Obituary/Death Notice and an In Memoriam?

Obituary / Death Notice:

Tells the story of a person’s life and shares it with the public. These can include photos and allow others to leave messages in a guest book.

 

In Memoriam:

Typically posted on anniversaries or special dates. These honor and remember a loved one with a message and optional photos.

 

Q. What information is typically included in a death notice?

Frequently included items:

- Full name

- Photograph (optional)

- Nickname (if appropriate)

- Age at death

- Cause of death (optional)

- Date of death

- City of residence at death

- Place of birth

 

Additional (optional) details:

- Family members and survivors (spouse, parents, children, grandchildren, extended family, etc.)

- Quotes from family members

- Work history, military service, education

- Clubs, religious affiliations, hobbies, accomplishments, volunteer activities

- Funeral or memorial service details (dates, times, location, burial information)

- Instructions for flowers, donations, or memorial contributions

- Funeral home logo

 

Q. Can a photo be included with a death notice?

Yes, photos are optional but encouraged. All photos are printed in color.

 

Accepted formats include .jpg, .tiff, or .bmp, with JPG preferred for best quality.

Final reproduction quality depends on the quality of the original image.

 

Q. Will the death notice appear online?

Yes. Death notices appear on washingtonpost.com/obituaries for 7 days and will run on the next run date of our 3x weekly obituary newsletter Lives Remembered.

They will remain permanently available on Legacy.com.

 

Q. What is Legacy.com?

The Washington Post partners with Legacy.com, the largest provider of online death notices and obituaries, to share notices nationwide and provide a permanent online archive.

 

Q. How do I suggest a news obituary?

To suggest a subject for a news obituary, please email: newsobits@washpost.com

 

Q. What if I need to make changes before publication?

If you submitted through the self-service portal, log into your account, make updates, and resubmit.

 

You may also contact us:

Email: deathnotices@washpost.com

Phone: 202-334-4122

 

Q. Who can I contact for additional help?

Phone: 202-334-4122

Email: deathnotices@washpost.com

 

Personal Contributions Policy

We cannot publish requests for contributions to personal fundraising sites such as GoFundMe or similar platforms.

 

All contributions must be directed to:

- A bank account

- An established charity

- A recognized institution (e.g., school or church)

 

Additional Notes

- Death notices are updated daily online.

- All paid notices must be prepaid prior to publication.

- All deaths must be verified prior to publication.