Bereavement
What to do when someone dies in the UK: a step-by-step checklist
A practical week-by-week guide for what to do when someone dies in the UK - covering England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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April 26, 2026
Digital Companion helps you organise important information, follow clear checklists, and take the next practical step — with calm, UK-focused guidance.
Visualise and organise the UK-focused practical tasks of life planning with gentle guidance, clear priorities, and a calming interface.
Drag-and-drop task management
Priority levels and due dates
Secure document links
Document medical preferences, care wishes, and important healthcare information so your voice is heard at every stage.
Advance care directives
Secure medical history records
Funeral and memorial preferences
Capture thoughts, memories, and messages for the people you love. A privacy-first, reflective space that preserves what matters most.
Record meaningful life memories
Securely encrypted and private
Share letters to loved ones
Whether you're planning ahead or supporting someone through loss, Digital Companion meets you where you are.
Personalised task board, organise links to important documents, record healthcare and funeral preferences, journal your thoughts and leave memories for your loved ones.
Personalised task board, organise links to important documents, access to journalling space.
A practical week-by-week guide for what to do when someone dies in the UK - covering England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
What each term means, when you actually need a grant, and how to apply — for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The conversation most people put off too long. Here's how to start it, what to cover, what to actually say, and what to do with the answers.
Digital Companion helped me have the conversations with my parents that we'd been putting off for years. The guided tasks made it feel manageable, not overwhelming.
I've been using the journal to write my thoughts and describe feelings. It's brought me enormous peace of mind knowing those words are safe.
After losing my mother, I was completely lost. Digital Companion walked me through every practical step gently and without judgement. I don't know how I'd have managed without it.
The healthcare wishes section helped me understand what my dad actually wanted. Having that clarity made the hardest decisions a little less impossible.
What is Digital Companion?
Digital Companion is a UK-based platform that helps you organise the practical and emotional work of end-of-life planning and bereavement, in one private, secure place. You get a personalised checklist of what to do and when, a place to record your wishes for healthcare and funeral arrangements, a journal for memories and messages, and the ability to nominate a trusted person to help you or act on your behalf.
Who is Digital Companion for?
Digital Companion is built for three kinds of people: those planning ahead for their own end of life (pre-planners), those invited by a family member to help with planning (delegates), and those navigating practical tasks after losing someone (bereaved users). You choose your role when you sign up. Digital Companion is currently available only to people aged 18 and over who live in the UK.
What's the difference between Digital Companion and making a will?
A will is a legal document that says how your assets should be distributed after you die. Digital Companion organises everything else — your wishes for healthcare and funeral arrangements, where to find important paperwork, messages for your family, and the practical tasks that fall to those left behind. The two are designed to work together, not replace each other.
How do I know whether to sign up as a pre-planner or as a bereaved user?
If you are planning ahead for yourself, choose pre-planner. If you have recently lost someone and need help with the tasks that follow, choose bereavement. If you have been invited by a family member to support their planning, you will receive a link from them — no separate signup needed.
Can I invite my family to help me plan?
Yes. As a pre-planner, you can invite a trusted family member as a delegate. They can view your wishes, help with tasks, and access your important information when the time comes. You stay in control of what they see, and you can change or revoke access at any time.
Does Digital Companion work across all four UK nations?
Yes. Many end-of-life processes — registering a death, applying for probate (or Confirmation in Scotland), notifying government departments — differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Digital Companion reflects those differences throughout, so you get the right guidance for where you live.
Is my information safe and private?
Yes. All your data is encrypted end-to-end. We never share your personal information with third parties. You control who can access your documents and wishes — sharing is always opt-in. We ask that you do not store passwords, PINs, or full bank account numbers on the platform — record where to find them instead.
How is Digital Companion different from using Google or a notes app?
Google gives you generic information. A notes app gives you a blank page. Digital Companion gives you a structured, personalised plan based on your circumstances and the UK nation you are in, with the right tasks in the right order, alongside the wishes and information your family will need. It is built specifically for end-of-life planning and bereavement, and the people you nominate as delegates can access what they need without you having to remember to send it to them.
How much does Digital Companion cost?
Digital Companion is free during early access. We are in the early stages of launch and want as many people as possible to use the platform and help shape what comes next. If paid plans are introduced in the future - anyone who joins during early access will be told well in advance.
Is Digital Companion a substitute for a will or legal advice?
No. Digital Companion is an organisational and emotional support tool, not a legal, medical, financial or tax advisory service. Information recorded on the platform is for guidance and is not legally binding. We strongly encourage everyone using Digital Companion to also have a properly drafted Will, and where appropriate, a Lasting Power of Attorney. We also strongly recommend doing your own research before making any decisions.
