Jersey

In 2026, Jersey became the first jurisdiction in the UK and Crown Dependencies to legalise assisted dying.

Assisted dying was legalised for terminally ill, mentally competent adults in Jersey in 2026. It is the first jurisdiction in the UK and Crown Dependencies to do so.

The law in Jersey

The Assisted Dying (Jersey) Law 2026 will enable adults aged 18 or over, who have capacity, to make a voluntary, clear, settled and informed decision to access an assisted death. To be eligible, applicants must have a terminal physical condition expected to cause death within six months – or twelve months for a neurodegenerative condition – and have been ordinarily resident in Jersey for the 12 months before applying.

The law has received Royal Assent and will come into force once registered by Jersey’s Royal Court, with implementation expected after the required set-up period.

The law on assisted dying

Helping someone die by suicide is a crime in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It can mean a prison sentence of up to 14 years.