Finding a specific notice in the mlive ann arbor obits shouldn’t feel like a part-time job. Honestly, when you’re looking for a friend or a family member, the last thing you want is a clunky interface or a dead-end search bar. Ann Arbor is a tight-knit community, even with the University of Michigan constantly bringing in new faces. People here care about their neighbors.
Searching for a local obituary is often about more than just dates. It's about that final story. Whether you’re a long-time local or just trying to track down some genealogy records, knowing where to click—and what to ignore—makes a massive difference.
Where to Look First
The main hub for mlive ann arbor obits is the digital version of The Ann Arbor News. Since the paper moved away from a daily print schedule years ago, the online archive has become the "source of truth." You can find it directly on the MLive portal, which is powered by Legacy.com.
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It’s kinda weird how the search works sometimes. If you just type a name into the main MLive search bar, you might get a bunch of news articles from five years ago. You’ve gotta go to the specific "Obituaries" section. Once you're there, you can filter by:
- First and Last Name: Keep it simple at first.
- Date Range: Use this if the name is common, like "Smith" or "Miller."
- Keywords: This is a pro tip. Try searching for "U-M," "Zingerman's," or "Pioneer High" if you're not 100% sure of the spelling but know where they worked or went to school.
The Cost of Saying Goodbye
If you’re the one actually placing a notice, be prepared. It’s not cheap. As of 2026, starting prices for a basic obituary in the Ann Arbor News hover around $220. That usually gets you a print mention and a permanent spot on the Legacy website.
Why so much? Basically, you're paying for the "real estate" in the Sunday or Thursday print editions and the tech that keeps the guestbook running forever. If you want to add a photo—and you should, because it helps people recognize their old friends—the price goes up. Some families choose to go through their funeral home, which handles the submission for them. Others do it themselves via the MLive "Ad Portal."
Submission Deadlines
Don't wait until the last minute. For the Ann Arbor market, the deadlines are pretty strict.
- For a Thursday print edition: You usually need everything submitted and paid for by 3:00 PM Wednesday.
- For the Sunday edition: The cutoff is typically 3:00 PM Friday.
If you miss these, your notice won't show up in the physical paper until the next delivery day, which can be a real pain if the service is happening that weekend.
Finding Older Records
If you're doing genealogy, the recent mlive ann arbor obits only go back so far. For the really old stuff—we’re talking 1950s or even the 1800s—the Ann Arbor District Library (AADL) is your best friend. They have an incredible digital archive.
You don't even have to go to the downtown branch anymore. Their "Old News" project has digitized thousands of pages. It’s way better than the standard MLive search because it captures the actual scan of the newspaper page. You see the context. You see what else was happening in town that day. It’s honestly a bit of a rabbit hole once you start looking.
Why the Guestbook Matters
One feature people often overlook in the mlive ann arbor obits is the guestbook. When someone passes away, people from all over the country—old college roommates or former colleagues—tend to pop up. These guestbooks usually stay open indefinitely.
It’s a place to find stories that didn’t make it into the formal text. Just a heads-up: Legacy does moderate these. If you try to post something weird or inappropriate, it’ll likely get flagged and won’t appear. It’s meant to be a "place of comfort," after all.
Avoiding Common Search Mistakes
Most people fail to find an obit because they get too specific. Don't put in the middle name unless you have to. Start broad. Michigan is a big state, and sometimes an Ann Arbor resident might have their obituary listed under a different MLive "affiliate" like Jackson or Detroit if that's where the funeral service took place.
Also, check for maiden names. If you’re looking for a woman who lived in Ann Arbor for 50 years, the obituary might be listed under her married name, but the text will mention her maiden name. The keyword search tool is great for this.
What to Do Now
If you’re looking for someone right now, go straight to the MLive "Southeast Michigan" browse page. It’s faster than using the search bar. If you’re planning a service and need to post a notice, call the funeral home first—they often have "preferred" templates that meet the newspaper's formatting requirements, which can save you a lot of formatting stress.
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For those deep-diving into family history, bookmark the AADL Archives. It’s a free resource that beats paying for a genealogy subscription any day of the week.
- Check the MLive portal for anyone who passed in the last 10-15 years.
- Visit the AADL digital archives for anything older than 2003.
- Verify deadlines if you are submitting a notice for the Sunday print edition.
- Use the keyword tool to search for specific employers or schools if the name is too common.