14 September 2023
Assistant Minister for Children and Education, Deputy Louise Doublet, has confirmed that legislation to secure the rights of all parents will be lodged by the end of
the year.
The legislation will update the Children (Jersey) Law 2002 and Marriage and Civil Status
(Jersey) Law 2001 to reflect modern family structures in Jersey.
If approved by the States Assembly, the new legislation will:
- allow both same-sex parents to be named on a Jersey birth certificate
- automatically provide parental responsibility to both same-sex parents
- provide opposite-sex civil partners with legal parent status and parental
responsibility in the same way as a married couple
- afford legal parent status and parental responsibility to parents whose child is born
to a surrogate mother
- allow for the acquisition of parental responsibility by a step-parent by agreement
This complex legislation has been subject to high levels of professional scrutiny to confirm
that it is fit for purpose. These reviews are nearing completion, and it is now anticipated
that the draft Law will be ready to be lodged before the end of the year.
Assistant Minister for Children and Education, Deputy Louise Doublet, said: “Both before
and after taking office, enshrining the rights of same-sex parents in law has been one of
my highest priorities.
“This work is progressing as quickly as possible: I continue to work closely with policy
officers, and with the law drafting staff to ensure that we lodge this legislation as soon as
we can. If approved by the States Assembly, it will mean that - for the first time - our
Island’s legal system will protect the rights of same-sex parents, and recognise their
families as equal.
“Having this legislation in place will make Jersey the first of the Channel Islands to legally
protect the rights of same-sex parents in law. This law also goes further than the
counterpart UK law because it will retrospectively grant these rights to the majority of
same-sex parents on Island.
“All families in Jersey should absolutely expect to have equal legal recognition and
protection: this law – if approved – will make this a reality.”
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