Rhode Island Abortion Laws
By FindLaw Staff | Legally reviewed by Nicole Prebeck, Esq. | Last reviewed December 22, 2022
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Summary
Abortion is legal in Rhode Island through viability. Thereafter, abortion is legal only if necessary to save the mother’s life.
Introduction
In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which returned to the states the power to regulate, even prohibit, abortion. In 2019, Rhode Island largely codified Roe in the Rhode Island Reproductive Privacy Act. That statute permits abortions through viability.
Rhode Island Abortion Laws: Overview
Rhode Island does impose some limits on abortion. The following chart contains additional details of abortion laws in Rhode Island, with links to related sources. See FindLaw's Abortion section for additional articles.
| Code Section | 23-4.7-1 to 8; 23-4.12-1 to 6 |
| Statutory Definition of Illegal Abortion |
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| Penalty for Unlawful Abortion |
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| Consent Requirements | Informed written consent after required disclosures unless emergency; if mother under 18 years and unemancipated, parental consent of at least one parent required; court can consent |
Note: State laws are subject to change at any time through the enactment of newly signed legislation or other means. You may want to contact a Rhode Island family law attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
Research the Law
- Rhode Island Law
- Official State Codes - Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.
Rhode Island Abortion Laws: Related Resources
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