Title: Parental involvement in minors' abortions. State policies in brief as of August 15, 2005.

POPLINE Document Number: 290082

Corporate Author(s):

Alan Guttmacher Institute [AGI]

Source citation:

New York, New York, AGI, 2005 Aug 15. [3] p.

Abstract:

A majority of states require parental involvement in a minor’s decision to have an abortion. In light of two U.S. Supreme Court rulings that prohibit parents from having absolute veto over their daughters’ decision to have an abortion, many states require the consent or notification of only one parent, usually 24 or 48 hours before the procedure. Many parental involvement requirements also include a medical emergency exception and a judicial bypass procedure, through which a minor may receive court approval to obtain an abortion without parental involvement. Not all states adhere to this model. On the more stringent end of the spectrum, a handful of states require the consent or notification of both parents, and one lacks a judicial bypass. On the other end, several states allow grandparents or other adult relatives to be involved in place of the minors’ parents; in cases of neglect or abuse, some states waive the consent or notification requirement altogether. State court decisions have also contributed to the diversity in requirements: Some state courts have enjoined laws they conclude violate their states’ constitutions; at the same time, similar or even more restrictive laws remain in effect in other states. (excerpt)

Keywords:

United States
Data Reporting
Adolescents
Adolescent Pregnancy
Decision Making
Parental Involvement
North America
Americas
Developed Countries
Data Collection
Research Methodology
Youth
Age Factors
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Reproductive Behavior
Fertility
Population Dynamics
Behavior
Child Rearing