Search Obituary, Death and Burial Records by Name
Enter the person’s first name, last name and last known state to prepare an obituary, death, burial, cemetery, memorial and related public-record search.
Find Recent Tennessee Obituaries, Funeral Notices & Official Death Records
Looking for a recent obituary in Tennessee? Start with the person’s full name and city or county, then confirm service details on the handling funeral home’s memorial page. If you need legal proof instead of a public notice, Tennessee Vital Records or any county health department can issue eligible statewide death certificates.
Quick Answer: Use the Right Tennessee Source
Newest notice
Search Tennessee obituaries by city, county, metro area or person’s full name.
Service details
Use the funeral-home memorial to confirm visitation, funeral, cemetery, flowers and livestream information.
Certified record
Use Tennessee Vital Records or a county health department for certified death certificates.
Older obituary
Use Tennessee State Library & Archives newspaper, county-record and funeral-home collections.
How to Find Recent Tennessee Obituaries by Name
Search Recent Obituaries by Tennessee Metro Area
A statewide search is useful when you are unsure of the funeral home, but adding the metro area usually removes many unrelated results.
Nashville Area
Useful for Davidson County and nearby Middle Tennessee communities.
Memphis Area
Useful for Shelby County and surrounding West Tennessee communities.
Knoxville Area
Useful for Knox County and surrounding East Tennessee communities.
Clarksville Area
Useful for Montgomery County and northwest Middle Tennessee searches.
Murfreesboro Area
Useful for Rutherford County and surrounding Middle Tennessee communities.
Other Tennessee cities
The statewide directory includes hundreds of Tennessee cities, including Chattanooga, Franklin, Jackson, Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, Cookeville, Columbia and many more.
Search Tennessee Obituaries by County
Tennessee has 95 counties. County searching is especially useful when the obituary uses a small town, rural community or funeral home name that is not obvious from a statewide search.
Middle Tennessee
Davidson, Rutherford, Williamson, Sumner, Wilson, Montgomery, Robertson, Maury, Dickson and nearby counties.
East Tennessee
Knox, Hamilton, Sullivan, Washington, Blount, Sevier, Anderson, Bradley, Carter and nearby counties.
West Tennessee
Shelby, Madison, Tipton, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Obion, Weakley, Haywood and nearby counties.
Confirm the Correct Person Before Sharing a Tennessee Obituary
| Check | Why it helps | Pause when… |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | The same name may appear in several Tennessee cities or counties. | Middle name, maiden name or surname is different. |
| Age / birth year | Separates people with similar names. | Age or birth year conflicts. |
| Relatives | Spouse, parents, children and siblings are strong clues. | No close family information matches. |
| City / county | Tennessee notices often list both residence and service location. | The geography does not match what you know. |
| Funeral home | The funeral home usually has the best service details. | The provider is in an unrelated region. |
| Publish date | Separates current obituaries from older notices or memorials. | The notice is from another year. |
Verify Funeral Details Before Travelling
Time
Visitation, funeral, memorial, church service and graveside service may all have different times.
Address
Funeral home, church, cemetery and reception may be separate locations.
Public or private
Do not assume every event is open to the public.
Livestream
Use only a stream linked by the funeral home, church or family-authorized memorial.
Flowers & donations
Follow the family’s stated preference and verify charities on their official sites.
Last-minute changes
Call before a long drive when severe weather or conflicting listings could affect the service.
How to Get a Tennessee Death Certificate
Tennessee’s Office of Vital Records maintains death certificates for deaths registered in the state. A certified copy is currently $15 per copy.
| Item | Current Tennessee information | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Death certificate | $15 per certified copy | Confirm eligibility and identification before ordering. |
| Additional copies | $15 each | Ask banks, insurers and estate professionals how many they actually require. |
| In person | Nashville Vital Records office | No appointment is currently required for a certified-copy request. |
| County health department | Statewide registered birth/death certificates | You do not have to travel to the county where the death occurred. |
| Online | VitalChek is Tennessee’s authorized online vendor | Start from the Tennessee Vital Records page to avoid unofficial sellers. |
Tennessee Office of Vital Records
1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Current office and lobby hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Use Any Tennessee County Health Department for Registered Death Records
Tennessee’s electronic issuance system allows county health departments to issue registered statewide death certificates. This can save a long trip when the death occurred in another Tennessee county.
How to Find Older Tennessee Obituaries
The Tennessee State Library & Archives is a strong starting point for older deaths because it holds extensive newspaper microfilm, county records, funeral-home records and genealogy collections.
Newspapers on microfilm
The Tennessee State Library & Archives says its collection includes almost every existing newspaper published in Tennessee.
County records
County microfilm inventories can help locate historical death, probate, court and other local records.
Funeral-home records
The Archives maintains guides to funeral-home records held in book and manuscript collections.
County genealogy fact sheets
County-specific research guides help identify what surviving records exist for each Tennessee county.
Better historical search workflow
- Start with surname + county + approximate year.
- Try spouse, parent, church or cemetery when the surname is common.
- Search “death,” “funeral,” “services” and “burial,” not only “obituary.”
- Check the local newspaper around the death date and several days afterward.
- Use county and funeral-home collections when the newspaper does not provide enough detail.
How to Verify a Tennessee Funeral Home or Funeral Director
Tennessee’s Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers regulates funeral directors, embalmers and funeral establishments. The state’s public license search can show license status and related public information.
Funeral Price Rights Before You Agree to Pay
Ask for prices by phone
Under the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral providers must give price information by telephone when asked.
Get a General Price List
When discussing arrangements in person, ask for the itemized General Price List and keep it.
Compare individual services
You generally have the right to choose the goods and services you want rather than an unwanted package.
Separate outside charges
Ask which costs come from the funeral home and which come from the cemetery, crematory, newspaper, clergy or other provider.
Can Tennessee Families Get Burial or Cremation Assistance?
There is not one simple statewide funeral-payment program that applies to every Tennessee resident. Assistance may depend on the county, city, Veteran status, crime-victim status, estate resources or other eligibility rules.
Ask the funeral home first
Tell the funeral director early when the family may not have enough funds. They can often identify the correct local office or program.
Check county or city social services
Some jurisdictions have burial or cremation programs for qualifying residents with insufficient resources.
Do not assume reimbursement
Get eligibility or approval before signing an agreement based on an expected public payment.
If the Person Was a Veteran or Eligible Dependent
Tennessee operates five State Veterans Cemeteries. The state currently says eligible Veterans are buried at no cost, and eligible spouses and dependent children are also buried without a cemetery charge.
Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery
7931 McCrory Lane
Nashville, TN 37221
615-532-2238
East Tennessee
East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery
2200 E. Gov. John Sevier Hwy 168
Knoxville, TN 37920
865-577-3228
West Tennessee
West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery
4000 Forest Hill/Irene Road
Memphis, TN 38125
901-543-7005
Parkers Crossroads
Tennessee also operates a State Veterans Cemetery at Parkers Crossroads in West Tennessee.
Additional Knoxville cemetery
Tennessee operates two state Veterans cemetery locations in the Knoxville area.
National cemeteries
Tennessee also has national Veterans cemeteries in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Johnson City and Chattanooga.
Pre-registration checklist
- Veteran’s full legal name.
- DD-214 or NG Form 22 / discharge documentation.
- Marriage certificate when applying for spouse eligibility.
- Service dates and discharge information.
- Cemetery preference.
Flowers, Donations, Guestbooks & Livestream Safety
Flowers
Use the family-authorized obituary or funeral-home memorial. Confirm the correct person and service before ordering.
Donations
Open the named charity’s own official website before entering payment information.
Guestbooks
Assume condolence messages are public. Avoid private addresses, financial information, medical claims and family disputes.
Livestream
Use only a link supplied by the funeral home, church or family-authorized memorial.
After You Find the Tennessee Obituary
- Save the obituary URL and funeral-home memorial page separately.
- Write down visitation, funeral and cemetery addresses separately.
- Ask the funeral home whether the death was reported to Social Security.
- Order certified death certificates only from Tennessee Vital Records or an authorized local route.
- Ask banks, insurers and estate professionals how many certified copies they actually require.
- Check Veteran burial and memorial benefits when military service applies.
- Keep receipts, certificate-order numbers and benefit correspondence secure.
Common Tennessee Obituary Search Mistakes
Searching only the full name
Fix: add Tennessee, city, county, funeral home or service date.
Ignoring nearby counties
Fix: search both the residence county and service/death location when they differ.
Assuming obituary = legal record
Fix: use Tennessee Vital Records for certified proof.
Trusting an old service time
Fix: verify through the handling funeral home shortly before attending.
Using an unverified funeral directory
Fix: check Tennessee’s license-verification system when necessary.
Giving up on older deaths
Fix: use Tennessee State Library & Archives newspapers, county records and genealogy collections.
Related RecentObituaries.info Guides
Obituary Search & Recent Notices Guide
Search by name, city, state, funeral home, cemetery and date.
Death Certificate & Vital Records Guide
Know when a public notice is not enough for legal use.
Funeral Costs & Consumer Rights
Understand price lists, itemized services and payment protections.
Veterans Burial & Memorial Benefits
Check cemetery, marker, flag, honors and burial-benefit routes.
After-Death Notification Checklist
Organize records, Social Security, insurance, banks, mail and benefit tasks.
Official & Primary Sources Used
Tennessee Office of Vital Records State death-certificate office, Nashville location and county health department guidance. Tennessee Vital Records — Current Fees Current $15 certified death-certificate fee. Tennessee Vital Records — How to Order In-person, county health department, mail and authorized online ordering instructions. Tennessee Local Health Departments County health department locations, phone numbers and hours. Tennessee Obituary Directory Statewide obituary browsing by metro, county and city. Tennessee State Library & Archives Historical newspaper, county, funeral-home and genealogy resources. Tennessee License Verification State professional and business license verification. Tennessee Funeral Directors, Embalmers & Burial Services Licensing, establishment and consumer-resource information. Tennessee Veteran Burial Benefits State cemetery eligibility and cost information. Tennessee State Veterans Cemeteries Locations, contacts, pre-registration and eligibility routes. Federal Trade Commission — Funeral Rule Funeral pricing and consumer-choice protections.Recent Tennessee Obituaries FAQs
Where can I find recent obituaries in Tennessee?
Start with a statewide Tennessee obituary directory, then narrow the search by city, county, newspaper or funeral home. Confirm final service details on the handling funeral home’s memorial page.
How do I search Tennessee obituaries by name?
Search the full name plus Tennessee first. If needed, add city, county, funeral home, spouse, maiden name, cemetery or approximate service date.
What Tennessee metro areas have dedicated obituary searches?
Common metro-area searches include Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Clarksville and Murfreesboro. Statewide directories also cover Tennessee’s counties and hundreds of cities.
Why can’t I find a recent Tennessee obituary?
The notice may not be published yet, may use another name form, may appear only on a funeral-home site, may be published under a nearby city or county, or the family may choose no public obituary.
How much is a Tennessee death certificate?
Tennessee currently lists certified death certificates at $15 per copy.
Do I have to go to the Tennessee county where the person died to get the certificate?
No. Tennessee says all county health departments can issue registered statewide birth and death certificates through the state electronic issuance system.
Can I order a Tennessee death certificate online?
Yes. Tennessee Vital Records says VitalChek is its authorized online vendor. Start from the official Tennessee Vital Records page to avoid unofficial sellers.
Who can request a Tennessee death certificate?
A parent, child or spouse is a common qualified-applicant route. Other applicants may need documents showing legal entitlement to the record. Check the current Tennessee instructions for your specific situation.
How can I find old Tennessee obituaries?
Use Tennessee State Library & Archives newspaper microfilm, county-record inventories, funeral-home records and county genealogy resources. Local libraries and historical societies can also be useful.
How can I verify a Tennessee funeral home?
Use Tennessee’s public professional-license verification system. Search the funeral establishment or professional and compare current status and location.
Does Tennessee have free Veteran burial?
Tennessee currently says eligible Veterans can be buried in Tennessee State Veterans Cemeteries at no cost. Eligible spouses and dependent children can also qualify for cemetery interment without a cemetery charge.
How many Tennessee State Veterans Cemeteries are there?
Tennessee currently operates five State Veterans Cemeteries: one in Nashville, one in Memphis, two in Knoxville and one at Parkers Crossroads.
Can Reserve or National Guard members qualify for Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery burial?
Tennessee expanded eligibility in 2026 for certain Reserve and National Guard members. Use the current state eligibility page because the new rules may differ from older summaries.
Does Tennessee have funeral or burial assistance?
Assistance varies by locality and eligibility. Some counties or cities operate programs for people without sufficient burial resources. Ask the funeral home and the relevant local social-services office before assuming reimbursement is available.
What should I verify before attending a Tennessee funeral?
Confirm the correct person, service date, time, exact address, public or private status, cemetery, parking, livestream and flower or donation instructions with the handling funeral home.
Is an obituary the same as a Tennessee death certificate?
No. An obituary is a public death notice or memorial. A certified Tennessee death certificate is a government record used for legal and administrative purposes.
Before You Share, Travel or Pay
- Search the full name plus Tennessee, city or county.
- Confirm the correct person with age, relatives and location.
- Use the funeral-home memorial for final service details.
- Use Tennessee Vital Records or a county health department for certified records.
- Use Tennessee State Library & Archives for older newspaper and genealogy research.
- Verify unfamiliar funeral homes through Tennessee’s state license search.
- Ask for funeral price information before agreeing to services.
- Check local assistance when burial or cremation costs cannot be covered.
- Check Tennessee and VA Veteran burial benefits when military service applies.
- Keep private medical, financial and family information out of public guestbooks.
RecentObituaries.info is an independent source-navigation guide. It is not Tennessee Vital Records, a county health department, funeral home, cemetery, newspaper, Tennessee State Library & Archives or the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services. Verify final service, record, payment and benefit details with the organization responsible for them.