Can Minors Get an Abortion in Illinois Without Parental Consent?

No. In Illinois, minors do not need parental consent or parental notification to get an abortion. You can make your own choice about abortion care at any age, and this applies to every type of abortion, including the abortion pill.

Illinois repealed its Parental Notification of Abortion Act in 2022. Before that change, a parent or guardian had to be told at least 48 hours before a minor's abortion. That rule is gone, so a 16-year-old patient now has the same right to schedule and get care as an adult.

Most nearby states still have parental involvement laws or ban abortion entirely, which makes Illinois different. Minors from other states can also get care in Illinois without a parent being told. Laws can change, so you can confirm the current rules when you call or at your visit.

The appointment process is the same for minors and adults. When you call The Center for Women to schedule, you do not need a parent on the phone, and you can set up your own appointment and attend it alone.

At your visit, the doctor will do an ultrasound, review your health history, answer your questions, and prescribe the abortion pill if you are eligible (up to 10 weeks of pregnancy). You take the first pill at the clinic and the second set of pills at home 24 to 48 hours later.

The staff treats every patient, including minors, with respect and without judgment. The doctor will explain each step clearly and make sure you know what to expect, and you can ask questions at any point during your visit.

No. The clinic will not contact your parents or guardians. Your medical records stay private. Under Illinois law and federal HIPAA rules, your health information is protected and cannot be shared without your consent.

If you pay with cash, no billing statement or insurance paperwork will go to your parents. The Center for Women accepts cash, and the $380 cost covers your whole visit: the appointment, ultrasound, medications, and follow-up.

If you use a parent's insurance, know that a form called an explanation of benefits may be sent to the policyholder. If privacy is a concern, paying with cash means no paperwork goes to anyone else.

Yes. You can bring any trusted adult to your appointment for support, such as an older sibling, aunt, grandparent, friend, or counselor. They can wait in the waiting area while you see the doctor. You do not have to bring anyone, but many patients like having someone with them.

The person who comes with you does not need to be your legal guardian, and they do not need to sign anything or show their own ID. Your appointment is between you and the doctor.

If you would rather come alone, that is fine too, and the clinic staff will support you through your visit.

Illinois is one of the easiest states in the Midwest for minors to get abortion care. Here is how it compares to nearby states:

• Indiana: Near-total abortion ban. Minors cannot get an abortion in Indiana whether or not a parent is involved.
• Missouri: Total abortion ban. No abortions are available in Missouri at any age.
• Wisconsin: Abortion is legal, but patients under 18 need parental consent.
• Iowa: Patients under 18 must have a parent notified, with limited exceptions.
• Kentucky: Near-total abortion ban.

Illinois has no parental involvement rule and no abortion ban, so it has become a place minors from across the Midwest travel to for care.

Illinois has no residency requirement. You can travel from any state to get abortion care in Illinois, and parental consent is not needed no matter where you live. Illinois shield laws protect patients who travel from other states, and that includes minors.

If your home state has a parental consent or notification law, that law does not follow you to Illinois. Once you are in Illinois, only Illinois law applies to your care, and your Illinois medical records are protected from being shared with other states.

If you need to travel to Westchester for your appointment, see our travel guides for patients from Indiana and Missouri for practical tips on making the trip.

Call The Center for Women at (708) 450-4545 to schedule. You can call on your own, and a parent does not need to be involved. Same-day, evening, and weekend appointments are available.

The Center for Women is located at 10215 W. Roosevelt Rd. #101, Westchester, IL 60154. The cost is $380 and covers your appointment, ultrasound, medications, and follow-up visit. Cash payment is accepted.