The Memorial Code has been established by leading organisations in order to provide basic principles and guidance in relation to the creation of memorial websites. It is expected that all memorial website providers should work within these guidelines to ensure that the rights and needs of the many vulnerable bereaved people are respected at all times.

Endorsing Organisations

It is hoped and expected that all memorial website providers will work within these guidelines to ensure that the rights and needs of the many vulnerable bereaved people are respected at all times.

The Code has no legal authority and adherence to the code is not obligatory. It is only through the voluntary membership and endorsement by service providers that the code is able to have a positive impact.

The following leading website memorial service providers currently endorse and abide by the memorial code by agreeing to apply the principles into the conduct of their organisations:

	MuchLoved Website Memorials MuchLoved.com is a charity set up by Jonathan Davies after the young death of his brother, Philip. Anyone can create a beautiful, free memorial website to their loved one and add stories, pictures, slideshows, music and video - friends and family can be invited to visit, contribute or to help build too. There is also an option to support a nominated charity. MuchLoved tributes are guaranteed by The Data Trust, in perpetuity. Registered Charity No. 1118590.
	Tribute Times Obituaries Tribute Times was founded in 2005 by the Wilde family after a loss in their own family; being spread across England they knew the internet was a place where they could all share their memories but needed a fitting place to do so and so Tribute Times was born. You are provided with a unique web address, design templates and music to help you build your memorial in order to make it a truly personal site.
	Imorial Our website is not about death, it's about life. It's about appreciating the beautiful gift of being alive and taking the time to remember those who are no longer with us, and those that are. Here you can create free online memorials to reminisce, remember and pay tribute to those special persons who have enriched your life, family and friends.
	Remembered Forever Memorials Remembered Forever is a great way of sharing memories and celebrating the lives of those who are sadly no longer with us. It provides numerous features including a personal background section, memorial candles and tributes, photo, video and music uploading plus a timeline. There is an easy to use editing system, you can password protect and there is also an option to support a charity.
	Valley of Life On October 20th, 2006 I lost my Mama and the grief was overwhelming. She didn't want a funeral and without a memorial service to celebrate her life with friends and family or to help me move through my grief, I felt alone and unable to move forward. That's when I decided to create Valley of Life which is here to help families pay tribute to those that they have loved and lost. Sharing memories, pictures and stories with others is such a powerful way to heal and it was through sharing my feelings online that I was able to honor my Mama's life.
	LifeStrand LifeStrand is a social utility that lets you reminisce and share your memories with people around you about the affections of your life. Parents, relatives, friends that are not here on the ground but are in your mind. Lifestrand follow strict privacy terms and allow the memorial creator to check every single contribution to their site and set the visibility of their profile.

An Acknowledgement of Thanks

We would like to acknowledge the contributions of both MissYou and The Last Respect in the establishment of The Memorial Code back in 2007.

	Miss You Miss You was a UK Hospice memorial initiative aimed particularly at supporting hospice patients and their families.
	The Last Respect The Last Respect was created by Chris Levee in 2003 after the loss of his mother as he wanted others to be able to start their own personal memorials to give them comfort in the face of their loss.

Both were pioneer sites that are no longer in service, however they were very helpful and positive in supporting the creation of a code of ethics for the developing online memorial market.

To read the Notes to the Code, please click here.

The latest version of the memorial code of ethics was Approved in May 2010. The memorial code was established by the online memorial website charity MuchLoved in conjunction with other leading online tribute and memorial website providers.