Proposal to remove 'illegitimate' child status

According to Jersey law, only children born to a mixed-sex couple who are married are considered legitimate

Jersey's parenting laws could be changed so children born out of wedlock are no longer considered "illegitimate".

Home Affairs Minister Deputy Mary Le Hegarat said in a proposition about half of all children in the island were born to unmarried parents.

Currently, only children born to a mixed-sex couple who are married are considered "legitimate".

Despite recent changes to the marriage laws, children born to a couple in a civil partnership are still regarded as illegitimate.

Le Hegarat said: "The option of abolishing the status of legitimacy is strongly preferable, as it is no longer reflective of modern family life.

"Only children whose parents are married and in a mixed-sex relationship are currently provided with the status of being 'legitimate' at birth."

She said it was "out of step with policy developments over the last few decades to modernise family law, so that legislation reflects modern family units more equitably".