Yahrzeits in Adar and other special dates (leap years) — explained simply

Which Adar a yahrzeit falls in during a leap year, and what happens to the 30th of a month that doesn't always have 30 days.

Who does this: Office staff6 steps

Before you start

You're adding or checking a yahrzeit (see "Add a yahrzeit with the Hebrew date").

1
Know the two Adars
A regular year has one Adar. A leap year has two: Adar I and Adar II. In the "Hebrew month" list, "Adar (Adar I in a leap year)" and "Adar II" are separate choices.
Two Adar choices in the month list.
2
Passed away in Adar of a regular year
Choose "Adar (Adar I in a leap year)". In regular years the yahrzeit is in Adar; in a leap year Yahiv puts it in Adar I. If the family keeps it in Adar II, choose "Adar II" instead — then it's Adar in a regular year and Adar II in a leap year.
"Adar (Adar I in a leap year)".
3
Passed away in Adar I (leap year)
Choose "Adar (Adar I in a leap year)" and type the year. Leap years: Adar I. Regular years: Adar.
4
Passed away in Adar II (leap year)
Choose "Adar II". Leap years: Adar II. Regular years: Adar (the Adar of Purim).
"Adar II".
5
The 30th of a month
Cheshvan and Kislev sometimes have only 29 days. For a petira on the 30th, Yahiv follows the usual rule, which depends on the first year after the petira — so type the "Hebrew year". 30 Adar I in a year with one Adar becomes 30 Shevat.
Type the year of the petira if you know it.
6
Check the result
Look at the person's profile under "Shul & dates": "next …" shows the English and Hebrew date Yahiv worked out. Ask your Rav if the family's minhag is different, and choose the month to match.
"next …" shows the date Yahiv worked out.

Typing the English date of the petira (with "after sunset" if needed) is the safest way — Yahiv works out the exact Hebrew date and year.
Birthdays and simchas follow a different rule: a 30th that's missing moves to the 1st of the next month.

The yahrzeit shows in Adar I but the family keeps Adar II.

Delete it and add it again with "Adar II" as the month.

A 30 Cheshvan yahrzeit shows on the 29th.

That's the usual rule when the month has 29 days. If the family keeps 1 Kislev, ask your Rav and enter that date instead.

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