Parental Consent

Menstuff® has information on Parental Consent.

Parental Consent: Which State Allows 12 year olds to Marry With Parental Consent. Hint: It Starts with an "M". Which state has no minimum age limit?
Parental Consent - Abortion

Parental Consent: Which State Allows 12 year olds to Marry With Parental Consent. Hint: It Starts with an "M". Which state has no minimum age limit?


In every state, women and men must be at least 18 years old to marry without parental consent. And, Nebraska requires you to be 19 while in Mississippi and Puerto Rico, you must be 21. And, while there are exceptions in some states if people have previously been married, are commonlaw married, married by proxy, or pregnant, the age requirement to be married with parental consent in some states might be surprising. See how you faired:

a. What state has no age limit - California
b. What state requires girls to be 13 - New Hampshire. (The boy must be 14).
c. And what state, that starts with an "M", allows 12 year old girls and 14 year old boys to marry?  Massachusetts.

Furthermore, there are seven states that allow younger girls to marry with parental consent.

Parental Consent - Abortion


The rules about abortion are different depending on where you live. In some states, you can get an abortion without telling your parents. In others, there are Parental Consent or Parental Notification laws.

The chart below shows the current situation for each state (last updated on 7/2007). There is also information on state law makers that may be trying to change the law, which can happen at anytime. You can find detailed information on your reproductive rights and monthly reports on Parental Consent/Notification laws at the website for the Alan Guttmacher Institute .

If you are thinking about an abortion and live where there is a Parental Consent/Notification law, it's a good idea to call a clinic in your state (or the Abortion Hotline at 1-800-772-9100) and talk with someone about your options. Usually you can get around telling your parents by going to a clinic in a state without these restrictions or, explaining your situation to a judge (this is called Judicial Bypass ). But this can take time, so call right away.

Parental Consent Laws are enacted on a state by state basis. They can be fought state by state too, so get involved with your local Abortion Rights organizations.

State Status Comments

Alabama PC
Alaska NONE PN law stopped by court
Arizona PC
Arkansas PC
California NONE PC law stopped by court
Colorado PN
Connecticut NONE
Delaware PN applies only to girls under 16 years old; notice may also be to grandparent or counselor; doctor can bypass
Washington NONE
Florida PN
Georgia PN
Hawaii NONE
Idaho PC PC law is back as of March 2007
Illinois NONE PN law stopped by court. Still stopped!
Indiana PC
Iowa PN also allows consent of grandparent instead
Kansas PN
Kentucky PC
Louisiana PC
Maine NONE
Maryland PN doctor can bypass
Massachusetts PC
Michigan PC
Minnesota PN2
Mississippi PC2
Missouri PC
Montana NONE PN stopped by court
Nebraska PN
Nevada NONE PN stopped by court
New Hampshire NONE PN law stopped by court
New Jersey NONE PN law stopped by court
New Mexico NONE PC law stopped by court
New York NONE
North Carolina PC also allows consent of grandparent instead
North Dakota PC2
Ohio PC
Oklahoma PN & PC Law requiring both started 11/2006
Oregon NONE
Pennsylvania PC
Rhode Island PC
South Carolina PC Women under 17 years old; also allows for consent of grandparent
South Dakota PN
Tennessee PC
Texas PC Law since 10/99 Thanks to Gov. George W. Bush
Utah PN & PC
Virginia PC also allows consent of grandparent instead
Vermont NONE
Washington NONE
West Virginia PN doctor can bypass
Wisconsin PC also allows other family members over 25 to consent; doctor can bypass
Wyoming PC

Legend: PC = Parental Consent; PN = Parental Notification; NONE = No PC or PN are required now; 2 = Both parents required

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