Is there a law that a death notice and/or an obituary be put in a newspaper?

Question

Is there a law that a death notice and/or an obituary be put in a newspaper?

Answer 1

No ,but family member run this ad to inform the community of their lost.

Answer 2

No, it is not mandatory under law anywhere that I am aware of.

Answer 3

there is a difference between a death notice and an obituary.

not all papers follow the same procedure.  In our newspaper (I used to work for them)  every death is reported briefly and in a similar manner in the death notice column.  This is a convenience for people who may know the deceased but not close enough to get a call from the family.  Even those who have no close relatives get a notice.  The obituary is a paid notice that included biographical information like survivors and birth date/place and often colleges attended or important jobs held.  Information and payment comes from the family of the deceased usually through the funeral home who checks for suitability.  Pictures are often included..often pictures of an earlier time in their lives.  If there is an estate to be probated there will also be a notice in the classified section by the executor of the estate.  In my state this is a requirement of state law and a certain number of insertions are required.  Often for small estates where the executor is a member of the family they might decide not to do this but it should be done so that any creditors can file claims.  If t here are outstanding debts and this is not done then the executor may be held personally liable.   I hope this did not confuse you.

Answer 4

No, usually the family (or friends) does this, and it's entirely up to them  to put it in the newspaper, how much to write, etc.  Also it actually costs them money to put it in.

Answer 5

Not in Maryland

Answer 6

I think the notice that matters is the notice in the legals when settling the estate of the decedent.  It is a notice to creditors of John Doe who died July 20 2008.  There is a form that the county commission clerk's office follows to alert the "world" to file any claim of a debt owed by the decedent.  I think the obituary is just a notice to allow people to pay some tribute to the deceased person.  It is more of a social notice like a wedding report.  Hope that is a satisfactory reply.