Many states need one or more parents or legal guardians to be informed in advance, give written agreement, or both, even though some states permit abortions for minors under the age of 18 without parental involvement.
A judicial bypass, in which you obtain a judge’s approval to have an abortion, may be available to you if your state has legislation requiring parental involvement.
In many states, healthcare providers are exempt from the necessity of parental involvement, but only under specific conditions.
The Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, the decision that granted women the constitutional right to an abortion prior to fetal viability—the point at which a fetus is enough grown to survive outside the uterus without medical assistance—in June 2022. Abortion is therefore prohibited in many states.
States that allow abortion have a wide range of limitations and regulations. At the time of writing, the information in this article was correct and current, but it’s conceivable that it has since changed.
You can contact 844-868-2812 or send a secure online message to the Repro Legal Helpline to find out more about your legal rights.
Which states demand consent from parents or legal guardians?
In the following states, anyone under the age of 15 must have one parent or legal guardian’s written consent before receiving any medical treatment, including an abortion:
The Oregon
People under the age of sixteen must have one parent’s or legal guardian’s written consent in the following states:
Carolina
People under the age of eighteen must have the written consent of one parent or legal guardian in the following states:
The state of Florida (Your guardian or parent must also present official identification.)
North Carolina (you can also meet this criteria by living with an adult brother or grandparent).
Ohio
Pennsylvania
The state of Rhode Island
Wyoming and Utah
People under the age of eighteen must have the notarized written consent of one parent or legal guardian in the following states, which calls for a government-issued ID:
Arizona
The state of Indiana
Michigan
Nebraska
Virginia (you can also meet this criteria by living with an adult brother or grandparent).
Unless sole custody is awarded to only one parent or guardian, the following states require that anyone under the age of 18 have the notarized written consent of two parents or legal guardians, which requires a government-issued identification:
The state of Massachusetts
According to the following state, anyone under the age of 17 must have one parent, grandparent, legal guardian, or other adult relative’s written consent.
Which states don’t demand any level of parental or guardian participation?
In the following states, a person under the age of 18 may have an abortion without telling or consulting a parent, legal guardian, or other caregiver:
- Maine
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Vermont
- Washington
- Alaska
- California
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)
- Hawaii
- Illinois
Which states demand notification from parents or legal guardians?
For individuals under 16, the following states mandate that a parent, grandparent, legal guardian, or mental health professional be notified 24 hours prior to your abortion: Some states require a healthcare provider to give written notice to a parent or legal guardian before providing abortion services.
The Montanan
The following states mandate that a parent or legal guardian be informed 24 hours prior to an abortion for anybody under the age of 18:
Georgia (Your guardian or parent must also present official identification.)
Utah, Virginia (you can also meet this criteria by living with an adult brother or grandparent).
The following states mandate that a parent or legal guardian be informed 48 hours prior to an abortion for anybody under the age of 18:
Colorado (you can also meet this condition by living with an adult aunt, uncle, or grandparent).
The state of Florida
Iowa (a grandparent may also meet this condition).
New Hampshire
Wyoming
The following states mandate that a parent or legal guardian be informed at some stage prior to an abortion for anybody under the age of 18:
The Delaware
The following states mandate that a parent or legal guardian be informed 48 hours prior to an abortion for anybody under the age of 16:
What situations allow a court to disregard these requirements?
Many states allow you to acquire a judicial bypass, which is where a judge gives you permission to have an abortion without parental participation.
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Utah, though notification is still required
- Virginia
- Wyoming
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Indiana, though notification is still required unless the judge believes it would be harmful to you
- Iowa
Contact the Repro Legal Helpline at 844-868-2812 or complete a secure online form if you require assistance seeking a judicial bypass. Jane’s Due Process is another organization that might be able to assist.
How can you locate a medical practitioner who is supportive?
You can use AbortionFinder.org to find a supportive healthcare provider if you want an abortion, or you can call your local Planned Parenthood health center. Since abortion is a time-sensitive procedure, it’s best to get help as soon as possible. Avoid going to a crisis pregnancy center: These clinics may appear to be typical health clinics, but they are actually antiabortion clinics that frequently spread false information and fail to tell you about your options. Additionally, it’s not always easy to identify a crisis pregnancy center, so if you’re thinking about visiting one, look up the clinic’s name and address in the Crisis Pregnancy Center Map to see if it’s reputable.
A company could be considered a crisis pregnancy center if they:
use stigmatizing language about birth control, sex, or abortion; claim that abortion is dangerous; don’t offer contraception or abortion and won’t direct you to a clinic that does; state that they’ll only refer you to an abortion provider if you come in for an appointment; and promise financial support if you continue the pregnancy.
Talk about your pregnancy using religious terminology.