{"id":351970,"date":"2016-04-04T11:02:46","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/reproductive-rights\/abortion-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-12-16T17:38:00","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T22:38:00","slug":"abortion-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/reproductive-rights\/abortion-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Abortion Laws: What\u2019s Required To Get an Abortion?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Abortion Laws:\u00a0What\u2019s Required To Get an Abortion?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Eric Harvey, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

State laws set requirements for getting an abortion. These requirements vary, and some states now have a total abortion ban. State requirements often concern waiting periods, counseling, and limited weeks of pregnancy. No federal law protects the right to get an abortion.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Abortion laws affect when and how you can end a pregnancy. As national law changes, the requirements and access to getting an abortion change, too.<\/p>\n

Roe v. Wade<\/i> was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that recognized a woman’s right to an abortion. Later Supreme Court decisions like Planned Parenthood v. Casey<\/i> restricted this right. The Court overturned Roe<\/i> in 2022, giving individual states the right to regulate abortion.<\/p>\n

After Roe<\/i>, opponents of abortion began to push for more restrictions. From the 1976 case of Planned Parenthood of Central Missouri v. Danforth<\/i><\/a> to the 2021 case of U.S. vs. Texas<\/i><\/a>, restrictions and barriers to abortion access have steadily grown. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)<\/a>, state legislatures have passed over 1,100 restrictions since 1973.<\/p>\n

Find the abortion laws in your state<\/a>. Legal challenges concerning travel and telehealth suggest abortion access across states could change.<\/p>\n

Legal requirements aren\u2019t the only barrier to abortion access. Though abortion is legal in the United States, six states have only one abortion provider<\/a>. This makes safe and legal abortions inaccessible for many people, especially young and poor women.<\/p>\n

Below is a summary of the most common abortion requirements, restrictions, and barriers in the U.S. states:<\/p>\n