### Tips for Accurate, Efficient Searches For name searches, use the deceased’s full legal name rather than nicknames, and include a middle initial if you have one to eliminate false matches for common surnames. For date searches, use a 1 to 2 day buffer around the known publication date, as obituaries are often published one or two days after the date of death. If you cannot locate a record after searching multiple sources, reach out to the Richmond Register or local library staff, as some older, non-digitized obituaries may only be available via physical archive request.