Under 18 Instructions | Meadow Reproductive Health McLean, VA

Abortion Services for Patients Under 18

In the state of Virginia, anyone under the age of 18 seeking abortion services requires consent from a parent/guardian, custodian or loco parentis in order to receive an abortion. The parent/guardian will need to sign and have notarized a form acknowledging consent for decision to receive abortion care.

This can happen in one of two ways:

If a parent, guardian, custodian or loco parentis can come with you to Meadow, they will complete and sign a “consent authorization”, a form we can provide, and have it notarized by one of the notaries we have on staff. The notary will require a valid photo ID from your parent/guardian.
If a parent, guardian, custodian or loco parentis cannot come with you to Meadow, they can print and complete a Consent Authorization Form (English / Spanish) and have it notarized. The notary will require a valid photo ID from your parent/guardian and may require proof of identity from you. Please bring the notarized form to your appointment.

If you are over 18, we will ask for a government issued ID to confirm your age. If you do not have a government issued ID, we will ask you to sign an affidavit confirming your date of birth.

What should I do if I'm under 18 and can't tell my parents I'm pregnant?

We encourage you to talk to your parent if you can do so safely, and we can help you talk to them; please feel free to speak with one of our patient advocates. However if you cannot tell a parent, you could use a judicial bypass. A judicial bypass is when you can go to a judge (juvenile court) who will have a private discussion with you to decide whether you can have an abortion without parental consent or without notifying your parents.

Meadow or another similar group can put you in touch with a volunteer lawyer to help arrange to talk with a judge. The lawyer can be with you and the judge. All of this is free. For more information, you can refer to the Repro Legal Helpline website (their phone number is 844-868-2812) or call our office for support.

What are the parental consent / notification laws in nearby states?

In DC: there are no parental consent or notification requirements.
In MD: it is required that the physician notify a parent. The law allows the physician to waive notification if it would lead to the minor being abused, if it would not be in the minor’s best interests, or if the minor is mature.