Our Policy Positions
- Health Care Reform and Women
- Birth Control and Other Preventive Care
- Sex Education
-
Abortion Access
- Federal and State Bans and Restrictions on Abortion
- History of the Federal Abortion Ban
- Ensuring Access to Abortions for Teens
- Roe v. Wade
- Anti-Choice Claims About Abortion and Breast Cancer (Fact Sheet)
- The Facts Speak Louder than “The Silent Scream” (White Paper)
- Medical and Social Health Benefits Since Abortion Was Made Legal in the U.S. (Fact Sheet)
- Roe v. Wade: Its History and Impact (Report)
- Global Reproductive Health Policy
- Opposing Attacks on Women’s Health
Ensuring Access to Abortions for Teens
Mandatory Parental Involvement Laws
If a teen discovers she’s pregnant, what does she do? Ideally, she would be able to talk with her parents and have their support in making a decision. Sadly, we do not live in an ideal world. For a variety of reasons, including fear of abuse, teenagers sometimes feel they cannot tell their parents about an unintended pregnancy or desire to have an abortion.
However, state laws restricting abortion frequently mandate at least one parent’s involvement in a teen’s abortion decision. Teenagers who feel they cannot tell their parents must either travel out of those states or obtain approval through a court or some other process.
Some members of Congress would like to make it even harder for teens to obtain abortions in states that already have mandatory parental involvement laws. Anti-choice officials want to make it a federal crime to transport a minor across state lines for an abortion unless the parental involvement requirements of her home state are met. When and if such a measure becomes law, an aunt, a grandmother, or a friend who helps a teen would be subject to prison, fines, and civil suits.
Congress should not make a criminal out of a loving and responsible relative or a friend who helps a teenager obtain a legal procedure. The best way to protect young women is by providing them with information and education about how to stay safe and healthy.
Laws by State
Updated: 08/03/09
Alabama
Alabama requires that one parent give permission for an abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Alaska
Currently there is no parental involvement requirement. Alaska does have a law that requires women 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. Call a local Planned Parenthood health center for more information.
Arizona
Arizona requires that one parent give permission for an abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Arkansas
Arkansas requires that one parent give permission for an abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
California
No parental involvement requirement.
Colorado
Colorado requires that one parent be told of a woman’s decision to have an abortion 48 hours before the procedure. A judge can excuse women from this requirement. If a woman does not live with her parents but lives with a grandparent or an adult aunt or uncle, the adult relative may be told in place of a parent.
Connecticut
No parental involvement requirement.
Delaware
Delaware requires that one parent, a grandparent, or a mental health professional be told of a woman’s decision 24 hours before her abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement. This law only applies to girls younger than 16.
District of Columbia (Washington, DC)
No parental involvement requirement.
Florida
Florida requires that one parent be told of a woman’s decision to have an abortion 48 hours before the procedure. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Georgia
Georgia requires that one parent be told of a woman’s decision to have an abortion 24 hours before the procedure. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Hawaii
No parental involvement requirement.
Idaho
Idaho requires that one parent give permission for a woman’s abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Illinois
No parental involvement requirement.
Indiana
Indiana requires that one parent give permission for a woman’s abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Iowa
Iowa requires that one parent or a grandparent be told of a woman’s decision to have an abortion 48 hours before the procedure. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Kansas
Kansas requires that one parent be told of a woman’s decision to have an abortion before the procedure. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Kentucky
Kentucky requires that one parent give permission for a woman’s abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Louisiana
Louisiana requires that one parent give permission for a woman’s abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Maine
Maine requires that one parent or an adult family member give permission for a woman’s abortion. A judge or a doctor can excuse women from this requirement.
Maryland
Maryland requires that one parent be told of a woman’s decision to have an abortion before the procedure. A doctor can excuse women from this requirement.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts requires that one parent give permission for an abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Michigan
Michigan requires that one parent give permission for an abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Minnesota
Minnesota requires that both parents be told of a woman’s decision to have an abortion 48 hours before the procedure. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Mississippi
Mississippi requires that both parents give permission for an abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Missouri
Missouri requires that one parent give permission for an abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Montana
No parental involvement requirement.
Nebraska
Nebraska requires that one parent be told of a woman’s decision to have an abortion 48 hours before the procedure. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Nevada
No parental involvement requirement.
New Hampshire
No parental involvement requirement.
New Jersey
No parental involvement requirement.
New Mexico
No parental involvement requirement.
New York
No parental involvement requirement.
North Carolina
North Carolina requires that one parent, or a grandparent with whom the woman has lived for at least six months, give permission for an abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
North Dakota
North Dakota requires that both parents give permission for an abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Ohio
Ohio requires that one parent give permission for an abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma requires that one parent be told of a woman’s decision to have an abortion at least 48 hours before the abortion takes place and give permission for the abortion. A judge can excuse women from these requirements.
Oregon
No parental involvement requirement.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania requires that one parent give permission for an abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island requires that one parent give permission for an abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
South Carolina
South Carolina requires that one parent or grandparent give permission for an abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement. This law only applies to girls younger than 17.
South Dakota
South Dakota requires that one parent be told of a woman’s decision to have an abortion 48 hours before the procedure. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Tennessee
Tennessee requires that one parent give permission for an abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Texas
Texas requires that one parent give permission for an abortion and, separately, that one parent be told of a woman’s decision to have an abortion 48 hours before the procedure. A judge can excuse women from both of these requirements.
Utah
Utah requires that one parent give permission for an abortion and, separately, that one parent be told of a woman’s decision to have an abortion 24 hours before the procedure. A judge can excuse women from the first requirement (permission), but not the second (that a parent be told). A woman can be excused from the second requirement if she has only one parent and that parent has abused her, and her doctor reports that abuse to the appropriate authorities. A woman can also be excused from this requirement if her parent has failed to take responsibility for her care.
Vermont
No parental involvement requirement.
Virginia
Virginia requires that one parent give permission for an abortion and, separately, that one parent be told of a woman’s decision to have an abortion 24 hours before the procedure. A judge can excuse women from both of these requirements.
Washington
No parental involvement requirement.
West Virginia
West Virginia requires that one parent be told of a woman’s decision to have an abortion 24 hours before the procedure. A judge or a doctor (other than the doctor who will perform the abortion) can excuse women from this requirement.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin requires that one parent, a grandparent, or an aunt, uncle, or sibling who is at least 25 years old give permission for an abortion. A judge can excuse women from this requirement.
Wyoming
Wyoming requires that one parent be told of a woman’s decision to have an abortion 48 hours before the procedure and give permission for the abortion. A judge can excuse women from these requirements.