We first check whether a source is active, uses a secure link and fits the selected country, period and known year. Only eligible sources enter the main recommended group.
Ranking factors
- Exact country coverage: 50 points.
- Worldwide coverage when no exact-country listing applies: 25 points.
- Matching recent or historical period: 25 points.
- Known year inside stated coverage: 20 points.
- Verified direct name search: 10 points.
- Explicit coverage of the entered region: 10 points.
Country and worldwide points are never combined. Access price does not affect relevance. Ties use a documented editorial order and then the source name.
Best match and alternatives
Only the first eligible source can be labelled Best match, and only when it has exact country and period coverage. Sources outside the requested year or period appear separately as possible alternatives.
Commercial relationships
Obituary Search currently ranks sources editorially. If partner links or advertising are added, compensation will not change organic order and commercial placements will be labelled.