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."
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.
To find out more about the laws in your state and the judicial bypass option, contact your local Planned Parenthood health center.
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
Your state requires that one of your parents give permission for your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
Illinois
Your state requires that a parent, grandparent, or step-parent you live with be told of your decision 48 hours before your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement.
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
No parental involvement requirement
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 parents 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.
