12-Week Ban
Abortion available until 12 weeks of pregnancy
72 hour mandatory waiting period before abortion
Ban on telehealth
Under age 18, must have parental consent or a judicial bypass
Abortion available until 12 weeks
- Except in emergencies, anyone having an abortion in North Carolina must:
- get counseling in person from an abortion provider; and then
- wait 72 hours before they can have their abortion.
- Abortions after 12 weeks are available only:
- if necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant person;
- for a lethal fetal anomaly (available until 24 weeks); or
- in cases of rape or incest (available until 20 weeks).
- You can learn more about emergency medical treatment under Getting the medical care you need on our Legal Rights and Risk page.
- No matter your age, you have the constitutional right to travel to another state where abortions are still being legally provided.
Telehealth
- Abortion providers are not allowed to prescribe abortion pills through a telehealth appointment. Anyone having a medication abortion must meet with an abortion provider in-person.
Self-managed abortion is not a crime in North Carolina. But what the law says and what happens in reality can be very different. If you have questions about your legal rights and risk, call 844-868-2812 or contact us through our secure form to speak with a lawyer.
To find an abortion provider, go to abortionfinder.org or ineedana.com.
An abortion fund or a practical support organization is an organization that can help pay for all or some of the costs of getting an abortion. Some funds only pay for the procedure. Others only pay for costs like travel, hotel, or childcare. Most require that you have an appointment at a clinic first. To find an abortion fund, go to:
Consent
If you are under 18 years old
- You have the right to get an abortion, but you must have the consent (written permission) of one parent or a legal guardian.
- If you cannot or do not want to involve a parent, or your parent does not support your decision, you can ask a court for a judicial bypass. This is a legal process that lets you ask a judge for permission to decide on your own whether to have an abortion.
- The court must schedule the hearing and the judge must make a decision within 7 days (not including weekends or holidays) of when you ask for a judicial bypass. You can learn more about the judicial bypass process under Judicial Bypass on our Young People & Abortion page.
- You have the right to a free lawyer in a judicial bypass hearing.
- The Carolina Abortion Fund runs a text line called Text Abby. If you contact Text Abby, let them know you are a young person who needs a judicial bypass and they can connect you with an attorney for free. The text line is confidential, free, and available every day from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm ET. You can reach Text Abby by texting 844-997-2229 or you can find more information on their website. If someone does not respond right away, please send a second text letting them know when it is a safe time for them to respond.
- If you still have questions about the judicial bypass process in North Carolina, we can help. Call 844-868-2812 or contact us through our secure form to speak with a lawyer.
You also have the right to travel to a state that does not have parental involvement laws.
To find an abortion provider, go to abortionfinder.org or ineedana.com.
An abortion fund or a practical support organization is an organization that can help pay for all or some of the costs of getting an abortion. Some funds only pay for the procedure. Others only pay for costs like travel, hotel, or childcare. Most require that you have an appointment at a clinic first. To find an abortion fund, go to: