Questions about Abortion Laws

When was abortion legalized?

Abortion has been debated for many years. Dating back to the early 1800’s, laws were being passed to make abortion illegal. Abortion laws drastically changed to legalize abortion in order to protect women's health and give them abortion rights. In 1973, abortion was finally made legal in all states of USA. Even as abortion rights have evolved over time, there are still many gray areas that cause questions to arise. Below are five of the top abortion questions that have been answered by the Family Lawyers on JustAnswer.

In New York, what is the legal age to get an abortion?

In New York ,the minimum legal age for abortion is 17 with no parental consent needed.

If a 16 year old is pregnant and refuses an abortion is the parent responsible for all the medical costs?

Considering the pregnant child is still a minor, the adult parent is usually held responsible for all the medical costs, parental care, delivery and post delivery costs of a pregnant minor.

Can a 16 year old be forced to have an abortion by their mother?

A parent cannot normally force their minor pregnant child to have an abortion or to give the child up for adoption. The exceptions to this would be if the child is in any danger due to the pregnancy, or if the child is deemed incapable of taking decisions independently. In many states when a child is pregnant she is considered an adult and is accorded the right to make decisions.

In North Carolina what is the legal age for consent?

North Carolina states the legal age for consent is 16. If one of the parties is under the age of 16, regardless of the age of the other person involved, it could be considered statutory rape. However, the laws on consent and abortion vary from state to state. You could ask a Family Lawyer on JustAnswer if you need further information on the laws in your state.

What are a parent's options to get their child to have an abortion if the child doesn’t want an abortion?

A parent usually cannot force their minor child into having an abortion. An abortion is an alternative procedure. However, some states require parental notification or consent in a minor's abortion, but if the minor does not want an abortion, the parent cannot force it on the child.

There are many types of abortions that occur for many reasons. Some of the causes for abortion include incest, medical necessity as well as rape. Depending on the particulars of your situation and the laws in your jurisdiction, the legal recourse available to you might vary. An easy and relatively affordable way to get answers to tough legal questions about abortion is to ask a Family Lawyer on JustAnswer for an Expert assessment of your situation and legal insights.