Some states require a waiting period – a delay of hours or days – before a pregnant person can have an abortion in that state.
**Rhode Island does not require you to go through a waiting period before getting an abortion.**
**If you are under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must give you permission to get an abortion.** If getting the permission of a parent or legal guardian is not an option for you, you can seek a judicial bypass. A judicial bypass allows you to waive the requirement for parental involvement. If you're a minor who would like help navigating the judicial bypass process, contact the If/When/How Repro Legal Helpline. To contact the Helpline, call [844-868-2812](tel:844-868-2812) or [submit a request online](https://www.reprolegalhelpline.org/contact-the-helpline/).
Abortion in Rhode Island is legal until "viability." Viability is the stage of pregnancy when a fetus has developed enough that it is able to survive outside the uterus with medical help. When it happens depends on how the fetus is developing and can be different for every pregnancy. A health care provider can determine whether a pregnancy has reached viability.
Abortion providers vary in how many weeks into pregnancy they provide services. Check pregnancy stage limits with each abortion provider.
**Exceptions that may allow you to get an abortion in Rhode Island after viability (the stage of pregnancy when a fetus has developed enough that it is able to survive outside the uterus with medical help)**
* To save the pregnant person's life
