While no state requires parental consent for contraception, the abortion laws for teens vary greatly by state. Some states require parental notification, others require consent, and some states don’t require any type of parental involvement. Most states have special provisions for teens who experience medical problems and for those who have become pregnant as a result of incest or sexual abuse.
Here are the current abortion laws for teens by location.
Alabama
Abortion is banned in Alabama with very limited exceptions, but state law still says that for minors:
Parental consent from a parent or legal guardian is required. Minors may bypass parent’s consent by obtaining a court approval.
Alaska
No parental involvement requirement.
Arizona
Requires parental consent from one parent. Allows minor to bypass parent’s consent by obtaining a court approval.
Arkansas
Abortion is banned in Arkansas with very limited exceptions, but state law still says that for minors:
Parental consent from a parent or legal guardian is required. Minors may bypass parent’s consent by obtaining a court approval.
California
No parental involvement required.
Colorado
Requires one parent be notified of the decision 48 hours before the abortion. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval. If the minor lives with an adult relative other than a parent, the adult relative may be informed of the abortion instead of the parent.
Connecticut
No parental involvement required.
Delaware
Requires one parent, grandparent, or mental health professional be told of the minor’s decision 24 hours before the abortion when the girl is under the age of 16. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval.
District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)
No parental involvement required.
Florida
Requires one parent be notified 48 hours before the abortion. Parents do not have to consent. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval.
Georgia
Requires one parent be notified 24 hours before the abortion. Parents do not have to consent. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval.
Hawaii
No parental involvement required.
Idaho
Abortion is banned in Idaho with very limited exceptions, but state law still says that for minors:
Parental consent from a parent or legal guardian is required. Minors may bypass parent’s consent by obtaining a court approval.
Illinois
No parental involvement required.
Indiana
Requires parental consent from one parent. Allows minor to bypass parent’s consent by obtaining a court approval.
Iowa
Requires parent or grandparent be notified 48 hours before the abortion. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval.
Kansas
Requires both parents give permission for an abortion. If parents are separated or divorced, only the parent with custody needs to give permission. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval.
Kentucky
Abortion is banned in Kentucky with very limited exceptions, but state law still says that for minors:
Parental consent from a parent or legal guardian is required. Minors may bypass parent’s consent by obtaining a court approval.
Louisiana
Abortion is banned in Louisiana with very limited exceptions, but state law still says that for minors:
Parental consent from a parent or legal guardian is required. Minors may bypass parent’s consent by obtaining a court approval.
Maine
No parental involvement required.
Maryland
Requires one parent be told of the decision. If the minor does not live with either parent and reasonable effort to give notice is unsuccessful, permission can be granted. Allows doctors to excuse the requirement.
Massachusetts
Requires parental consent from one parent. Allows minor to bypass parent’s consent by obtaining a court approval.
Michigan
Requires parental consent from one parent. Allows minor to bypass parent’s consent by obtaining a court approval.
Minnesota
Requires parental notification of both parents 48 hours before the abortion. Parents do not have to consent. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval.
Mississippi
Abortion is banned in Mississippi with very limited exceptions, but state law still says that for minors:
Requires parental consent from both parents. If parents are separated or divorced, only the parent with primary custody needs to give permission. Allows minor to bypass parent’s consent by obtaining a court approval.
Missouri
Abortion is banned in Missouri with very limited exceptions, but state law still says that for minors:
Requires parental consent from one parent, and in some cases your other parent might need to be notified. Allows minor to bypass parent’s consent by obtaining a court approval.
Montana
Consent policy is temporarily enjoined, or prohibited, by court order.
Nebraska
Requires parental consent from one parent. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval.
Nevada
No parental involvement required.
New Hampshire
Requires one parent be notified of the decision 48 hours before the abortion. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining court approval.
New Jersey
No parental involvement required.
New Mexico
No parental involvement required.
New York
No parental involvement required.
North Carolina
Requires parental consent from one parent, or a grandparent with whom the minor has resided with for at least six months, to give permission for the abortion. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval.
North Dakota
Requires parental consent from both parents. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval.
Ohio
Requires parental consent from one parent, step-parent, grandparent, or sibling age 21 or older. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval.
Oklahoma
Abortion is banned in Oklahoma with very limited exceptions, but state law still says that for minors:
Requires parental notification of one parent 48 hours in advance and the parent has to give consent. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval.
Oregon
No parental involvement required.
Pennsylvania
Requires parental consent from one parent. Allows minor to bypass parent consent by obtaining a court approval.
Rhode Island
Requires parental consent from one parent. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval.
South Carolina
Requires parental consent from one parent or grandparent for girls under age 17. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval.
South Dakota
Abortion is banned in South Dakota with very limited exceptions, but state law still says that for minors:
Requires parental notification 48 hours before the abortion. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval.
Tennessee
Abortion is banned in Tennessee with very limited exceptions, but state law still says that for minors:
Requires parental consent from one parent. Allows minor to bypass parent’ consent by obtaining a court approval.
Texas
Abortion is banned in Texas with very limited exceptions, but state law still says that for minors:
Requires parental consent from one parent. One parent must be told of the decision 48 hours before the abortion. Allows minor to bypass parent consent by obtaining a court approval.
Utah
Requires one parent be notified 24 hours before the abortion and one parent must give consent. Allows minor to bypass parent consent by obtaining a court approval but that parent must be notified. A judge may excuse the minor from notifying a parent if the minor only has one parent and that parent has been abusive and a doctor has reported the abuse to the appropriate authorities. Additionally, a minor may be excused from this requirement if a parent has failed to take responsibility for the minor’s care.
Vermont
No parental involvement required.
Virginia
Requires consent from one parent, grandparent, or adult sibling with whom the minor lives. One parent, grandparent, or adult sibling with whom the minor lives must be notified 24 hours before the abortion. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval.
Washington
No parental involvement required.
West Virginia
Abortion is banned in West Virginia with very limited exceptions, but state law still says that for minors:
Requires one parent be notified 48 hours before the abortion. A judge or doctor can excuse the minor from this requirement.
Wisconsin
Requires one parent, foster parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or sibling who is at least 25 years old give permission for the abortion. Allows minor to bypass parent by obtaining a court approval.
Wyoming
Requires parental notification 48 hours before the abortion and the parent must consent. Allows minor to bypass parental consent by obtaining a court approval.
Prevent Unplanned Pregnancy
Have frequent conversations with your teen about difficult subjects, like sex and birth control. Providing facts, as well as information about your values, can influence your teen’s decisions.
Although studies show teens are influenced by the media, their parents still have the biggest influence over them when it comes to issues like abortion.
