Parental Consent and Notification Laws

If you are under 18, your state may require one or both of your parents to give permission for your abortion or be told of your decision prior to the abortion. However, in most states you can ask a judge to excuse you from these requirements. The procedure is called a “judicial bypass.”

To find out more about the law in your state and the judicial bypass option, call the nearest Planned Parenthood center at 1-800-230-PLAN.

Note: in most states a legal guardian can give permission or be notified in place of a parent. Also, in some states you can be excused from involving a parent without going to a judge if you are the victim of abuse or neglect, and you or your doctor report this to the appropriate authorities. If you think this may apply to you, call the number above for more detailed information.

Alabama	Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Alaska	Currently there is no parental involvement requirement. Your state does have a law which requires girls younger than 17 to get permission from one parent to have an abortion. However, this law is not being enforced because of a court order. You should call a Planned Parenthood center in your area for more information.
Arizona	Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Arkansas	Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
California	No parental involvement requirement
Colorado	Your state requires that one of your parents be told of your decision 48 hours before your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement. If you do not live with your parents, but you live with a grandparent, or an adult aunt or uncle, the adult relative you live with may be told in place of your parents.
Connecticut	No parental involvement requirement
Delaware	Your state requires that one of your parents, a grandparent or a mental health professional be told of your decision 24 hours before your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement. This law only applies to girls younger than 16.
District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)	No parental involvement requirement
Florida	Your state requires that one of your parents be told of your decision 48 hours before your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Georgia	Your state requires that one of your parents be told of your decision 24 hours before your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Hawaii	No parental involvement requirement
Idaho	Currently there is no parental involvement requirement. Your state does have a law which requires girls younger than 18 to get permission from one parent to have an abortion. However, this law is not being enforced because of a court order. You should call a Planned Parenthood center in your area for more information.
Illinois	Currently there is no parental involvement requirement. Your state does have a law requiring that an adult family member be told of your decision 48 hours before your abortion. However, this law is not being enforced because of a court order. You should call a Planned Parenthood center in your area for more information.
Indiana	Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Iowa	Your state requires that one of your parents or a grandparent be told of your decision 48 hours before your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Kansas	Your state requires that one of your parents be told of your decision before your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Kentucky	Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Louisiana	Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Maine	Your state requires that one of your parents or an adult family member give permission for your abortion. A judge or a doctor can excuse you from this requirement.
Maryland	Your state requires that one of your parents be told of your decision before your abortion. A doctor can excuse you from this requirement.
Massachusetts	Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Michigan	Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Minnesota	Your state requires that both of your parents be told of your decision 48 hours before your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Mississippi	Your state requires that both of your parents give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Missouri	Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Montana	No parental involvement requirement
Nebraska	Your state requires that one of your parents be told of your decision 48 hours before your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Nevada	No parental involvement requirement.
New Hampshire	Your state has a law which requires girls younger than 18 to notify one parent before having an abortion. This law is not being enforced because of a court order, but you should call a Planned Parenthood center in your area for more information.
New Jersey	No parental involvement requirement.
New Mexico	No parental involvement requirement
New York	No parental involvement requirement
North Carolina	Your state requires that one of your parents, or a grandparent with whom you have lived for at least six months, give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
North Dakota	Your state requires that both of your parents give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Ohio	Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Oklahoma	Your state requires that one of your be told of your decision at least 48 hours before the abortion takes place, and give permission for the abortion. A judge can excuse you from these requirements.
Oregon	No parental involvement requirement.
Pennsylvania	Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Rhode Island	Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
South Carolina	Your state requires that one of your parents or a grandparent give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement. This law only applies to girls younger than 17.
South Dakota	Your state requires that one of your parents be told of your decision 48 hours before your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Tennessee	Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Texas	Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion, and separately that one parent be told of your decision 48 hours before the abortion takes place. A judge can excuse you from both of these requirements.
Utah	Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion, and separately that one parent be told of your decision 24 hours before the abortion takes place. A judge can excuse you from the first requirement (permission), but not the second (that a parent be told). You can be excused from the second requirement if you have only one parent and that parent has abused you, and your doctor reports that abuse to the appropriate authorities. You can also be excused from this requirement if your parent has failed to take responsibility for your care.
Vermont	No parental involvement requirement.
Virginia	Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion, and separately that one parent be told of your decision 24 hours before the abortion takes place. A judge can excuse you from both of these requirements.
Washington	No parental involvement requirement.
West Virginia	Your state requires that one of your parents be told of your decision 24 hours before your abortion. A judge or a doctor, other than the doctor who will perform the abortion, can excuse you from this requirement.
Wisconsin	Your state requires that one of your parents; a grandparent; or an aunt, uncle, or sibling who is at least 25 years old give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Wyoming	Your state requires that one of your parents be told of your decision 48 hours before your abortion and give permission for the abortion. A judge can excuse you from these requirements.