this if for future reference only and it pertains to NYS only.
Apparently there was a time when death announcements got published and were the precursor to doing the obit..the announcement let those in the deceased’s social circle and family members that they had passed, it’s stuff you wont probably find in a published obit.There will be a tentative out line of where services may be held (Home,Church and Now I find that the state had provisions for publishing in newspaper the fact that an instrument in writing (will) was going to be proved in surrogate court before the judge to handle the matter. all known next of kin were required to attend, any one younger than 21 were asked to bring their guardian. Not having one or brining one meant you got a court appointed one. Date was established and the notice was printed over a period of weeks.
I have seen other files where creditors/debtors were listed and inventory of real and personal property were generated and values were established….. during the probate process monetary values will accepted, debt may be resolved and outstanding credits will also be finalized…