Select your state

Criminal charges

aiding a suicide

Most states have laws against aiding a suicide or assisted suicide. These laws are usually found in the state’s statutes, and sometimes in the state’s court opinions or case law (common law). The severity level of these crimes range from misdemeanors to felonies.

In Washington state, assisted suicide is legal under certain circumstances through the Washington Death with Dignity Act, which was enacted in 2009. This law allows terminally ill adults who are residents of Washington and have been determined to have six months or less to live to request lethal doses of medication from their physician for the purpose of ending their lives. The process is strictly regulated and requires multiple requests, including a written request, two oral requests, and a waiting period. The physician must also confirm the patient's diagnosis, prognosis, and competency, and a second physician must concur. It is important to note that while the Death with Dignity Act provides a legal framework for assisted suicide in specific circumstances, aiding a suicide outside of these parameters remains illegal and could be subject to criminal prosecution. The act explicitly states that actions taken in accordance with it do not, for any purpose, constitute suicide, assisted suicide, mercy killing, or homicide under the law.

Legal Articles

State Statutes

Talk to an Attorney

Legal Articles

Michelle Carter and the Death of Conrad Roy

In a case that shocked the nation, Michelle Carter was charged for encouraging her boyfriend's suicide via text. People still have questions — and opinions.

State Statutes

Washington State Code

Copyright ©2024 LegalFix. All rights reserved. LegalFix is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and does not provide legal advice, services, or representation. The information on this website is an overview of the legal plans you can purchase—or that may be provided by your employer as an employee benefit or by your credit union or other membership group as a membership benefit.

LegalFix provides its members with easy access to affordable legal services through a network of independent law firms. LegalFix, its corporate entity, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors do not provide legal advice, services, or representation—directly or indirectly.

The articles and information on the site are not legal advice and should not be relied upon—they are for information purposes only. You should become a LegalFix member to get legal services from one of our network law firms.

You should not disclose confidential or potentially incriminating information to LegalFix—you should only communicate such information to your network law firm.

The benefits and legal services described in the LegalFix legal plans are not always available in all states or with all plans. See the legal plan Benefit Overview and the more comprehensive legal plan contract during checkout for coverage details in your state.

Use of this website, the purchase of legal plans, and access to the LegalFix networks of law firms are subject to the LegalFix Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

We have updated our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosures. By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosures.