Abortion in the United States

Abortion is still legal in some states in the U.S., but a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision overturned *Roe v. Wade*, which established the constitutional right to an abortion. That means that there is no longer a federal protection for abortion access, so states that want to severely limit or ban abortion care can do so. It’s estimated that roughly half of all states will move to ban abortion now that *Roe* is overturned. Abortion will still be legal in some states. We’re tracking the situation closely and keeping this site up to date. **Is abortion still legal in the U.S.? In some states.** The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in *Roe v. Wade* guaranteed the constitutional right to have an abortion in the U.S. The Supreme Court has now overturned *Roe v. Wade* with their decision in *Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization*. However, it’s important to know that *Roe* being overturned is not the same thing as there being a federal ban on abortion. *Roe* being overturned means the constitutional protection that was in place has been removed, and the states are no longer limited in what kinds of abortion restrictions they can pass. Some states have legal protections in place that will ensure that abortion remains legal there. Other states have banned or severely restricted abortion. It is legal to travel out of state to get an abortion, no matter what state you’re located in.

National abortion laws overview

13 states completely ban abortion

27 states ban abortion after a specified point in pregnancy

9 states require a person seeking an abortion to wait a specified period of time before their abortion

24 states require some type of parental involvement for a minor to get an abortion

National laws FAQs

### What does it mean for *Roe v. Wade* to be overturned?

The fact that *Roe* was overturned means that there is no longer a federal protection for abortion access, which means states that want to severely limit or ban abortion care can do so. It’s estimated that roughly half of all states will move to ban abortion now that *Roe* has been overturned.

### What is *Roe v. Wade*?

*Roe v. Wade* is the 1973 Supreme Court decision that established a constitutional right to an abortion. The 2022 Supreme Court decision in *Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization* overturned *Roe*, taking away the constitutional right to abortion. To see how the fall of *Roe* has impacted access to abortion in the U.S., [check out our maps](/abortion-guides-by-state/abortion-in-the-united-states/abortion-access-map).

### Is abortion illegal nationwide now that *Roe v. Wade* has been overturned?

No. *Roe* being overturned is not the same thing as there being a federal ban on abortion. *Roe* being overturned means the protection that was in place has been removed, and the states have no limitations on what they can decide to do. Some states have legal protections already in place that will ensure that abortion remains legal there. To see how the fall of *Roe* has impacted access to abortion in the U.S., [check out our maps](/abortion-guides-by-state/abortion-in-the-united-states/abortion-access-map).

State-by-State Guide

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Abortion in the United States