Is abortion legal in Pennsylvania?
Nearby States: Maryland, New Jersey, New York
The information on this page is not legal advice. To talk to a lawyer about your specific circumstances, questions, and needs, call 844-868-2812 or or contact us through our secure online form.
We do not sell or provide abortion pills. We cannot give medical advice.
Available
Abortion available until 24 weeks of pregnancy
Mandatory 24 hour waiting period before abortion
Telehealth available
Under 18, must have parental consent or judicial bypass
Abortion available until 24 weeks
- As of 2026, abortion is legal to provide up until 24 weeks in Pennsylvania. Anyone getting an abortion from a healthcare provider in Pennsylvania must:
- receive counseling information from their abortion provider; and then
- wait 24 hours before their appointment to have an abortion.
- After 24 weeks, healthcare professionals cannot provide abortions except if necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant person.
- You can learn more about emergency medical treatment under Getting the medical care you need on our Legal Rights and Risk page.
Is telehealth legal in Pennsylvania?
- Medication abortion (an abortion with pills) is available by telehealth in Pennsylvania. This means you can meet with a health care provider by video call who will prescribe and mail you abortion pills. For more information, see the Find an abortion provider section below or go to abortionfinder.org or ineedana.com.
Are abortion pills by mail and self-managed abortion legal in Pennsylvania?
- Many people order abortion pills by mail to end a pregnancy at home. These pills can come from healthcare providers licensed in other states. People also order abortion pills by mail without the help of a healthcare provider.
- Under Pennsylvania law, it is not a crime for pregnant people to end your own pregnancy with abortion pills or by any other method. 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 online form to speak with a lawyer.
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 your hearing and a judge must make a decision within 3 days (not including weekends or holidays) of you asking 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.
- If you are in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Defenders Association’s Child Advocacy Unit provides free lawyers to represent young people in judicial bypass hearings. You can call or text 267-293-9644 or email judicialbypass@philadefender.org.
- In all other parts of Pennsylvania, you can contact Women’s Law Project. They represent young people in Allegheny County, and can connect you to a free lawyer in other parts of the state. Call 412-281-2892 and ask for help with a judicial bypass. A lawyer will usually get back to you within 24 hours.
- If you still have questions about the judicial bypass process in Pennsylvania, we can help. Call 844-868-2812 or contact us through our secure online form to speak with a lawyer.
You also have the right to travel to a state that does not have parental involvement laws.
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: