Abortion Services for Young People Under 18

You have the right to decide to have an abortion if you are under 18. But Florida state law requires most young people under 18* to involve a parent or legal guardian in their decision. If you can’t involve your parent or legal guardian, you have the option of asking a judge to let you get an abortion without involving a parent. This process is called judicial bypass. You can find more information below.  

*See drop down below: “Who is exempt from parental notification and consent?” 

Florida state law requires that if you are under the age of 18, your parent or legal guardian must be notified of your plan to have an abortion (parental notification) and give their permission (parental consent) for you to have an abortion. Your parent or legal guardian will need to sign specific forms provided to you at the health center, and the forms must be notarized. All Planned Parenthood health centers have a certified notary on staff to assist. 

Florida is one of only six states that require both consent and notification.  However if you get consent from your parent or legal guardian, or a judicial waiver, that will also automatically satisfy the notification requirement. 

Beginning July 1st, 2020, young people under the age of 18 who wish to obtain an abortion must have notarized consent and notification from one of their parents or legal guardians. 

Notarized consent and notification can only be given by a legal guardian or parent- this means that a step parent, grandparent, or anyone who is not your legal parent/guardian can not give you consent and notification.

Parental consent and notification is a Florida state law that requires you to have written & notarized permission from one of your parents/legal guardians in order to obtain an abortion if you are under the age of 18. This means that your parent/guardian has to fill out paperwork for the health center that says they know and consent to your abortion procedure.

Parental consent to your decision to get abortion care is not required IF:

1. There is a medical emergency (certified by an attending physician) and there is insufficient time to obtain consent 

2. A court has emancipated you 

3. You have a minor child dependent on you 

4. You are or have been married 

If you are exempt from parental notification, the following documents will be required at the clinic:

• If married or divorced: you must bring a state issued marriage license or divorce certificate.

• If you have a dependent child: you must bring the child's birth certificate.

• If emancipated: you must bring court documentation

Both you and your parent/legal guardian will need to bring identification with you to the health center. Your parent/guardian must sign a form saying that they know and consent to you receiving abortion care. 

Acceptable Forms of ID & Approved Documents:

• Parents must prove identity by providing 

  • Photo ID** with name

  • Child’s birth certificate 

• Legal guardians must prove identity by providing: 

  • Certified letter of guardianship 

  • Photo ID with name matching guardianship papers* 

  • Child’s birth certificate

• Young people under the age of 18 must prove identity and age by providing photo ID; driver's license; or school ID with birth certificate.

* If last name is different than child's, then provide proof for difference in name (i.e. marriage certificate or other state issued document showing name change)

**This can be a state issued ID; driver's license; passport, green card or certificate of naturalization.

We encourage you to talk to your parent/guardian about your decision, if you can do so safely. If you are worried about telling your parents, it can help to first confide in other people that you trust, like a friend, sister, teacher, aunt or grandparent. This not only gives you some practice in telling people, but it’s also important not to go through this alone. It is important to remember that under Florida’s law,  only your legal parent or guardian can give consent on your decision to obtain an abortion, unless you get a judicial bypass-- See below for information on what to do if you can’t involve a parent or legal guardian in your decision.

If you can’t tell your parents about your decision to have an abortion, you can still get access to the abortion care that you need. 

There is an option for young people who can't tell their parent about their decision to have an abortion. It is called a judicial bypass.

If you cannot tell your parent or guardian about your pregnancy and decision to obtain an abortion, you can ask for an order from a judge to allow you to have an abortion without involving your parent or legal guardian. 

Teens who are legally emancipated do not need to have permission from a parent or guardian to obtain an abortion. If you are legally emancipated you must provide proof of emancipation to the health center staff.

If you need a judicial bypass to get an abortion, you must first apply in person at a courthouse. 

If you are concerned about privacy you can go to a courthouse in another county, but it must be in the circuit where you live. Florida counties are grouped together to form 20 circuits, find your county on the map here to determine which circuit you live in.

Below, you will find contact information for the relevant court offices at county courthouses in our service area:

Palm Beach County Courthouse

Juvenile Department, Rm 3.22, 3rd Floor
205 North Dixie Highway 
West Palm Beach, Fl 
561-355-2996

Martin County Courthouse

Juvenile Department, 2nd Floor
100 SE Ocean Boulevard
Stuart, Fl 
772-288-5576

Broward County Courthouse 

Rm 444
201 SE 6th Street 
Fort Lauderdale, Fl 
954-831-6565

Miami-Dade County Courthouse

Juvenile Court
155 NW 3rd Street, Room 4319,
Miami, Fl
305-679-2196 or 305-679-2155

Leon County Clerks Office

Suite 100-1st Floor
301 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-577-4150

Duval County Courthouse

501 West Adams Street, Room 2472
Jacksonville, FL 32202

Alachua County - Clerk of the Court

201 East University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(Through security on the right)
352-374-3636

Port St Lucie Clerk of Court

Family Relations Department, 2nd Floor
201 South Indian River Drive
Fort Pierce, Florida 34950
(772) 462-6900

After you contact the Clerk of Courts you will be connected with a court-appointed attorney, upon your request and at no cost to you. You will meet with your attorney, either virtually or in person to discuss next steps, including preparation for your hearing. 

Florida law does not require you to have a lawyer to file a petition for a judicial bypass. However, you do have the right to request a court appointed lawyer, at no cost, in order to guide you through the process and accompany you to the hearing. Most people opt for the court-appointed lawyer’s help. 

If you decide that you want a lawyer, you can contact your local courthouse and they will give you the information for the lawyer to contact.

You will tell the lawyer all of the reasons why you want to terminate your pregnancy. Everything that you tell your lawyer will be kept secret, the lawyer will not tell anyone what you tell them, unless you say it is okay. 

If the lawyer prepares your petition, you have the right to review the petition before it is filed. In some counties, you must be present at the courthouse when the lawyer files the petition.

Once your petition is filed, Florida law requires a judge to meet with you, and your lawyer if you have one, to hear about your request and make a final decision within three business days to either grant or deny the waiver.

If you decide that you do not want a lawyer, that is okay. You do not need a lawyer to file the petition or to meet with the judge at your hearing.

If you plan to seek a judicial bypass, you can save time by filling out some required forms that can be found here. In many counties, these forms can be completed ahead of time for you to give to the clerk. In other counties, a clerk will assist you with completing the forms, while in others a court-appointed lawyer will help you or even do it on your behalf after talking with you. More information on how forms are handled in your county may be available on the chart on the page, “Where do I go to get a judicial bypass?” of the TeenAbortionFlorida.com website, which is also hyperlinked below under the FAQs tab.

The two forms attached above are:

1. “Sworn Statement of True Name and Pseudonym” – This document makes sure that no one finds out about you going to Court to get this waiver. It lets you choose a different name for the Court to use, instead of your real name. Once this is filed, the Court will refer to you by the initials or pseudonym that you chose. It protects your right to have the abortion without your parents or guardians knowing. 

2. “Judicial Bypass Petition” – This paper is a request of the judge. You can choose to write your own petition and bring it with you, or you can fill out this form. Your petition should include:

• Your pseudonym or initials (whichever you choose to use on your Sworn Statement of True Name and Pseudonym)

• Your age

• A statement that you are pregnant and that your parents do not know about your abortion and have not agreed to allow you to get an abortion

• A statement that you want to terminate your pregnancy (get an abortion) without telling your parent or legal guardian

• An explanation of why you want to terminate your pregnancy. There are 3 ways that you can get a judicial waiver from the judge. You have to prove at least 1 of those 3 reasons. If more than one applies to you then you should explain each reason that applies. The 3 reasons are:

1. you are sufficiently mature to decide on your own whether to have an abortion;

2. you are a victim of child abuse or sexual abuse by one or both of your parents or guardians; or

3. notifying a parent or legal guardian would not be in your best interest.

On the day of your appointment, you will fill out paperwork; have lab work done; have an ultrasound to determine gestational age, and meet with an educator. The educator will discuss all of your options with you, as well as, the entire abortion process, after-care instructions, birth control options and to address any and all of your concerns/questions. Generally your appointment will last 2-3 hours.

• A copy of your judicial bypass approval from the judge 

• State issued photo ID OR driver's license OR passport, green card OR certificate of naturalization OR school ID WITH birth certificate.

• What is a judicial bypass for abortion?

• Where do I go to get a judicial bypass?

• What forms do I need?

• What will the judge consider?

• Do I need a lawyer?

• How long does it take to get a judicial bypass?

• Does it cost money to get a judicial bypass?

• Will anyone know if I get a judicial bypass for abortion?

• What kinds of questions will the judge ask me?

• What do I wear to court?

• What happens if my hearing is scheduled during a school day?

• Does the other person involved in my pregnancy have a say about whether I choose to have an abortion?

• Do I have to be a US citizen to have an abortion? What if I don’t speak English well?

• Can I change my mind after I get the bypass?

• What if the judge denies my request for a bypass?