People under 18 years old seeking abortion care in Pennsylvania have the right to an abortion without parental consent if they go to court and meet with a judge. The judge can give them permission to get an abortion.
This confidential hearing is called a “judicial bypass.”
This court hearing doesn’t cost any money. You are not required to have a lawyer for judicial bypass, but having a lawyer can help the process move faster and help you avoid unnecessary delays.
Women’s Law Project attorneys are here to help you and we do not charge any fees. We are a non-profit legal center devoted to advancing and defending the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ people. We’re based in Pennsylvania.
Learn more about how judicial bypass works and tips for scheduling your abortion appointment by reading the materials posted on this page, then call us at 412-281-2892 or email us at info@womenslawproject.org. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Fact Sheets on Judicial Bypass in Pennsylvania
Learn more by reading our fact sheet on the judicial bypass in Pennsylvania. Esta información también está disponible en español.
Make sure you follow these tips to avoid unnecessary delays while scheduling your appointments. Siga estos consejos para evitar retrasos innecesarios.
One important tip is to use a dedicated search engine like www.ineedana.com or www.abortionfinder.org to find an abortion provider near you. Google and similar search engines may bring you to an anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center (CPC) website instead of an abortion provider.
What is an anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy center?”
CPCs don’t provide or refer for abortion and are NOT qualified to give you the pre-abortion counseling required by law. Also called “pregnancy resource centers,” CPCs want you to go to their facility before your abortion, but that’s unnecessary and could delay your care. But don’t worry! It’s easy to find a real abortion provider: Just use www.inneedana.com or www.abortionfinder.org instead of a regular search engine.
Contact us for help.
We know your situation can feel overwhelming but you are not alone. We are here for you! If you would like help, contact us at 412-281-2892 or info@womenslawproject.org and someone will get back to you.
