Teenage abortion regulations in each State

Updated on January 29, 2021

Parents often do not want to entertain the idea that their children could have an abortion; yet, in the United States, hundreds of thousands of teenage girls get pregnant each year, and the vast majority of these pregnancies are unplanned.

While no state needs parental permission to get a contraceptive, the rules regarding abortion for minors vary widely from one another. In some areas, parental notice is necessary; in others, the parental agreement is required; in others, parental participation of any kind is not needed. Most states have enacted laws that provide particular protections for adolescents afflicted with medical conditions or who have gotten pregnant because of being sexually abused or in incestuous relationships.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adolescent pregnancies have significantly decreased over the last decade due to increasing programs focused on teaching young people about birth control. However, compared to other developed nations, the United States continues to have one of the highest adolescent pregnancy rates.

The following is a list of the abortion laws that currently apply to adolescents in each state.

Alabama

• Requires parental consent from one parent.
• It is possible for a minor to acquire permission from the court without the consent of their parents.

Alaska

• No parental participation is required.

Arizona

• Requires parental consent from one parent.
• It is possible for a minor to acquire permission from the court without the consent of their parents.

Arkansas

• Requires parental consent from one parent.
• It is possible for a minor to acquire permission from the court without the consent of their parents.

California

• No parental participation is necessary.

Colorado

• It is required that one parent be informed of the choice to abort at least 48 hours before the procedure.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.
• If the minor resides with an adult relative other than a parent, other than the parents, the adult relative can be told about the abortion rather than the parent.

Connecticut

• No parental participation is necessary.

Delaware

• When a girl is under the age of 16, it is required that one of her parents, grandparents, or a mental health expert be informed of her desire to have an abortion at least 24 hours before the procedure.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.

District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)

• No parental participation is necessary.

Florida

• It is necessary to give at least one parent notice of the abortion at least 48 hours in advance. The permission of the parents is not required.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.

Georgia

• It is required that one parent be informed twenty-four hours before the abortion. The permission of the parents is not required.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.

Hawaii

• No parental participation is necessary.
• The state of Idaho requires that at least one of a woman’s parents provide their consent to the abortion.
• Permits a juvenile to circumvent parental authority by gaining judicial consent.

Illinois

• It is required that at least one parent, step-parent who resides in the household, or grandparent be advised about the abortion 48 hours in advance.
• Permits a juvenile to circumvent parental authority by gaining judicial consent.

Indiana

• Requires parental consent from one parent.
• It is possible for a minor to acquire permission from the court without the consent of their parents.

Iowa

• A parent or grandparent must be told at least 48 hours before an abortion occurs.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.

Kansas

• It is necessary for both parents’ consent to get an abortion. Only the parent who has custody of the child must approve if the parents are divorced or separated.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.

Kentucky

• Requires parental consent from one parent.
• It is possible for a minor to acquire permission from the court without the consent of their parents.

Louisiana

• Requires parental consent from one parent.
• It is possible for a minor to acquire permission from the court without the consent of their parents.

Maine

• No parental participation is necessary.

Maryland

• It is necessary to inform at least one of the parents about the choice. Permission may be given if the youngster does not reside with either parent and if the parents have made a reasonable attempt to provide notice but have been unsuccessful.
• Allows medical professionals to be exempt from the obligation.

Massachusetts

• Requires parental consent from one parent.
• It is possible for a minor to acquire permission from the court without the consent of their parents.

Michigan

• Requires parental consent from one parent.
• It is possible for a minor to acquire permission from the court without the consent of their parents.

Minnesota

• Both parents must be notified of their child’s intention to get an abortion at least 48 hours in advance. The permission of the parents is not required.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.

Mississippi

• Consent must be obtained from both of the child’s parents. Only the parent with primary custody of the child has to provide approval if the parents are divorced or separated.
• It is possible for a minor to acquire permission from the court without the consent of their parents.

Missouri

• Obtaining parental approval from one of your parents is necessary; depending on the circumstances, the other parent may also need to be told.
• It is possible for a minor to acquire permission from the court without the consent of their parents.

Montana

• A court order has temporarily enjoined or barred the consent policy’s implementation.

Nebraska

• Requires parental consent from one parent.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.

Nevada

• No parental participation is necessary.

New Hampshire

• It is required that one parent be informed of the choice to abort at least 48 hours before the procedure.
• Permits a juvenile to circumvent parental authority by gaining judicial consent.

New Jersey

• No parental participation is necessary.

New Mexico

• No parental participation is necessary.

New York

• No parental participation is necessary.

North Carolina

• For a minor to be granted permission to have an abortion, parental consent must first be obtained from either one of their parents or from a grandparent with whom the child has lived for at least six months.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.

North Dakota

• Consent must be obtained from both of the child’s parents.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.

Ohio

• It is necessary to get parental permission from one of the following: a parent, step-parent, grandparent, or sibling who is at least 21 years old.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.

Oklahoma

• It is necessary to provide parental notice to one parent at least forty-eight hours in advance, and that parent must provide their agreement.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.

Oregon

• No parental participation is necessary.

Pennsylvania

• Requires parental consent from one parent.
• Enables a juvenile to circumvent the need for parental permission by applying for and receiving approval from the court.

Rhode Island

• Requires parental consent from one parent.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.

South Carolina

• Requires parental permission from one parent or grandparent for females under age 17.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.

South Dakota

• Notification to parents is necessary 48 hours before the abortion procedure.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.

Tennessee

• Requires parental consent from one parent.
• It is possible for a minor to acquire permission from the court without the consent of their parents.

Texas

• Requires parental consent from one parent. The choice to have an abortion must be disclosed to at least one parent at least 48 hours before the procedure.
• Enables a juvenile to circumvent the need for parental permission by applying for and receiving approval from the court.

Utah

• It is required that one parent grant permission and that one parent be told at least 24 hours before an abortion is performed.
• It is possible for a youngster to receive permission from the court without the consent of a parent, but the parent must be informed.
• If the juvenile only has one parent, and that parent has been abusive, and if a doctor has reported the abuse to the relevant authorities, then a court may exclude the youngster from the need that they tell a parent. A minor may also be exempt from this requirement if a parent is unwilling or unable to accept responsibility for the child’s care.

Vermont

• No parental participation is necessary.

Virginia

• Need permission from one of the minor’s parents, grandparents, or older siblings or cousins with whom they reside.
• At least one of the minor’s living parents, grandparents, or older siblings or siblings must be told at least 24 hours before the abortion.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.

Washington

No parental participation is necessary.

West Virginia

• It is required that one parent be informed twenty-four hours before the abortion.
• The minor may be exempt from this requirement if the court or medical practitioner approves it.

Wisconsin

• It is necessary to get consent for the abortion from one of the following adults: a parent, foster parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or sibling who is at least 25 years old.
• Approval from the court is required for a juvenile to act independently of a parent.

Wyoming

• It is required that parents be notified at least 48 hours before an abortion, and the parent’s agreement is necessary.
• Permits a juvenile to circumvent the need for parental permission by getting judicial authorization beforehand.

Resources

1. Planned Parenthood. Parental consent and notification laws.
2. Guttmacher Institute. Parental involvement in minors’ abortions.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About teen pregnancy.
4. Altshuler AL, Gerns Storey HL, Prager SW. Exploring abortion attitudes of US adolescents and young adults using social media. Contraception. 2015 Mar;91(3):226-33. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2014.11.009