Publishing a tribute online has become one of the easiest ways for families and friends to share important information after a loss of a loved one Today, you can post a death notice online using digital platforms like ownstory.com that allows you to create a digital obituary that friends and relatives can access from anywhere in the world. Many people now prefer to publish an obituary online as it’s faster, more flexible, and easier to update than traditional print options which has very limited audience and slower as well.  

A growing number of online obituary services also offer features that help readers find a death notice, browse local death announcements, and learn how to search death notices online or check funeral details or even post something as a remembrance. These modern tools ensure that important information reaches people quickly while providing a lasting memorial space that families and friends can revisit whenever they wish. 

“My family needed to publish a death notice for my granny in Manchester, and we wanted to inform our relatives living in Australia but was clueless where to start and how to do it! Was it better to use the local paper which he used to read every morning? Or publish online so relatives in London and Edinburgh and Australia could see it instantly it was all so confusing. 

After comparing options, we realised the local newspaper helped us reach his community, while an online obituary gave us space to share photos, memories and donation links. And to reach this conclusion it took us a whole of 2 days.
This mix of local tradition and digital accessibility made the process easier” 

– Jean Cooper

What Type of Death Notice You Need in the UK? 

You can Choose between: 

• Death Notice (short, factual, funeral details) 

• Obituary (longer life story and tribute) 

• Legal Deceased Estate Notice (e.g., The Gazette for England, Scotland, Wales, NI) 

Local examples: 

• London Evening Standard 

• Birmingham Mail 

• Yorkshire Post 

• Glasgow Herald 

• Belfast Telegraph 

Which Portals are Available to Post Death Notices? 

Different platforms have different reach and use. 

• Online: OwnStory.com, Funeral-Notices.co.uk, Legacy pages, Funeral Director websites  

• Local Print: Local newspapers keep the announcement local to your region have hyperlocal accessibility.  

• National Print: The Telegraph, The Times, Scotsman, in these national newspaper obituaries and death notices can be posted as well. 

• Legal: The Gazette (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland & Wales editions) 

Each platform helps you reach a different audiences and community. 

What Should I Include in a UK Death Notice? 

Prepare key information prior to the process so its easier. 

• Full name 

• Age 

• City of birth 

• Date of death and year 

• Funeral date & venue 

• Donation details 

• Short tribute or announcement line 

How Do I Submit the death notices online? 

• Use the newspaper’s online portal directly 

• Submit through a portal like ownstory.com 

• For legal notices: submit via The Gazette official portal 

Most online notices publish within 24 hours but print editions vary by publication day and newspaper processing   

How Digital Obituaries Enhance Death Notices Online 

Digital obituaries make traditional offline death notices richer by allowing families and friends to share photos, memories, and messages of condolence in one accessible place. They not only can be shared easily and quickly but also can be revisited in remembrance and also loved ones can leave tributes from anywhere in the world .You can explore how online memorial work. 

How Can I Publish a Death Notice online in the UK? (a step-wise guide) 

Step 1 : Go to Ownstory.com and Create a Free Account 

Ownstory is designed for families who want an easier and more flexible way to share a loved one’s story.
Creating an account is super simple and takes under a minute. 

 What will you need to put up a memorial?

• Name 

• Email 

• A strong password 

After sign-in, you land directly on the “Create section”  

Step 2: Choose ‘Death Notice’, ‘Obituary’ or ‘Memorial Page’ 

Ownstory lets you choose from four formats depending on your needs: 

• Memorial page 

• Obituary  

• Ritual Notice  

• Celebration in memory 

Step 3: Add the Essential Details to the platform. 

Own Story guides you with simple prompts, so you never feel lost and overwhelmed. 

You’ll add: 

• Loved one’s full name 

• Town/city in the UK (for geo relevance) 

• Date of death 

• Funeral location, date & time 

• Donation preferences 

• Optional photo 

• Short tribute or full obituary text 

Because it’s digital, there’s no character limit a major upgrade from newspapers. 

 Step 4: Personalise the Story With accessible easy to use features  

Feature: Add Photos & Videos 

Multiple images can be uploaded along with videos. 

Feature: Timelines & Life Highlights 

You can add moments such as: 

• Birth location 

• Schools 

• Career milestones 

• Marriage & family 

• Achievements 

Feature: Family Message Wall 

Friends and relatives can leave messages as well. 

Feature: Shareable Link for UK or Global Family 

Ownstory generates a shareable link so you can post the notice: 

• On Facebook 

• In WhatsApp groups 

• On funeral director pages 

• By email  

Step 5: Publish the Death Notice Instantly 

Once you’re happy and satisfied with the edits you can click Publish.
Your death notice or obituary becomes instantly available online with no delays, no print cut-off days. 

You can also return anytime to edit anything as per your wish. 

Step 6: Share the Notice Across the UK and Beyond 

Share your Ownstory obituary with: 

• Family living abroad 

• your local community and friends 

• funeral attendees 

• charity donation pages 

Why Choose Platforms like Ownstory Instead of a traditional Newspaper?

• No word limit 

• No high per-line fees 

• No delays in publishing a memorial/obituary 

• No restrictions on photos and number of memories 

• Instantly shareable across the world. 

• Built for modern memorial storytelling  

Is Ownstory More Affordable Than Newspapers? 

Yes publishing an obituary or death notice on Ownstory is more cost friendly and reliable and also can be revisted while UK newspapers often charge and have limited audience. 

• £50–£300 for local print notices 

• £150–£500+ for national papers 

• extra fees for photos or longer tributes 

Ownstory keeps everything simple and accessible. 

Why Ownstory Works Best for Today’s Families 

• More interactive 

• More personal 

• More shareable 

• More respectful of family privacy 

• Easier to update 

• Accessible anywhere in the world 

Create your death notice online with Ownstory and share a meaningful tribute that family and friends can access anytime. 

FAQs

1. Where can I publish a digital death notice in the UK?

You can publish a death notice on online platforms like OwnStory.com or Funeral-Notices.co.uk, in local or national newspapers. Each platform reaches different audiences depending on your needs and accessibility. 

2. Are digital death notices cheaper or offline death notices?

Online platforms such as Owns tory are cheaper and has better features than 
Local newspapers which typically charge £50–£300, and national newspapers can cost £150–£500+, with additional fees for longer text or photos with limited reach. 

 3. How quickly will a death notice be published?

Online notices usually can be posted immediately whereas Print notices depend on a newspaper’s publishing schedule and can take 1–3 working days. 

 4. What all information do I need to publish a UK death notice?

You’ll need the full name, age, place of birth, date of death, funeral details, donation preferences, and a short tribute or message. A photo is optional but recommended. 

5. How do you create an obituary online?

 Creating an obituary online takes 5 minutes, You need to navigate to a Death notice platform like ownstory.com give in all the necessary details along with images and publish the notice. 

 6. Is there a way to find out if somebody died in the UK?
 

Yes  there are several ways to check and the most common is using online records and obituary platforms. You can look through dedicated UK obituary websites, local newspaper archives, and memorial platforms where families publish official death notices. You can also search in the General Register Office (GRO) for official death records or check The Gazette,.