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Find a Provider Guide to Abortion Care in Massachusetts     Introduction     Types of Providers     Finding a Provider     What to Expect     Cost of an Abortion     Paying for An Abortion     Laws About Abortion     Making an Appointment Appendices     Insurance Resources     Abortion Funds     Advocacy Resources     References

These are the main laws about abortion in Massachusetts:
 
Informed Consent
A doctor can only do an abortion for a woman if she gives her "informed consent.”⁸ Before a woman can give her consent, she must be told about the abortion method, possible problems that could come from the abortion, and alternatives to abortion.
 
Women Under 18 Years Old
A woman under 18 years old needs to have permission from one of her parents to get an abortion OR ask a judge at the Massachusetts Superior Court for permission to have an abortion. This is called ‘judicial bypass’.⁸ Young women who cannot tell their parents about the pregnancy can use this method. The judge will not tell her parents or anyone else about this.
 
Young women do not have to go to a judge by themselves. If a woman under 18 years old can’t get permission from a parent, she can call (617) 616-1616 or (800) 258-4448 (option 3). When she calls this number, she will talk to a counselor who will tell her about her choices and explain "judicial bypass.” If the woman chooses abortion, the person will find a lawyer to help her to talk to the judge. There is no cost for this call or for the lawyer. It usually only takes a few days to see the judge and the judge almost always gives permission for the abortion.

Length of Pregnancy
In Massachusetts, abortions can be done until the pregnancy is 24 weeks along.⁹