Is abortion legal in Rhode Island?
Nearby States: Connecticut, Massachusetts
To talk to a lawyer about your specific circumstances, questions, and needs, call 844-868-2812 or contact us through our secure online form.
The information on this page is not legal advice. We do not sell or provide abortion pills. We cannot give medical advice.
Available
Abortion available until 24 weeks of pregnancy
Telehealth available
Under age 18, must have parental consent or a judicial bypass
Abortion available until 24 weeks
- As of 2026, abortions are legal to provide up until about 24 weeks of pregnant.
- After 24 weeks, healthcare professions 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 Rhode Island?
- Medication abortion (an abortion with pills) is available by telehealth in Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island?
- 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 Rhode Island 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. If neither of your parents are living, a legal guardian can give written permission.
- If you cannot or do not want to involve a parent, or if 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 quickly, usually within one week of when you ask for a judicial bypass. The court will also automatically connect you with a guardian ad litem (GAL). The GAL is not your lawyer. Their job is to tell the court what they believe is best for you, even if that is different from what you want. You can learn more about the judicial bypass process under Judicial Bypass on our Young People & Abortion page.
- You can have a free lawyer help you in a judicial bypass hearing, and we can connect you to a lawyer who can help you through every step of the judicial bypass process. 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: