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Abortion Laws by State

South Carolina

Nearby States: Georgia, Florida, North Carolina

The information on this page is not legal advice. To talk to a lawyer about your specific circumstances, question, and needs, call 844-868-2812 or contact us through our secure online form.

We do not sell or provide abortion pills. We cannot give medical advice.

  • Abortion available until 6 weeks of pregnancy
  • 24 hour mandatory waiting period before abortion
  • Ban on telehealth
  • Under age 17, must have parental consent or a judicial bypass

Abortion available until 6 weeks

  • Except in emergencies, anyone who needs an abortion in South Carolina must:
    • get counseling from the abortion provider; and
    • wait 24 hours after the counseling before getting their abortion.
  • Abortions after 6 weeks are available only:
    • if necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant person
    • for a lethal fatal anomaly; and
    • in cases of rape or incest (up until 12 weeks).
  • You can learn more about emergency medical treatment under Getting the medical care you need on our Legal Rights and Risk page. 
  • No matter your age, you have the constitutional right to travel to another state where abortions are still being legally provided. 

Telehealth

  • Abortion providers are not allowed to prescribe abortion pills through a telehealth appointment. Anyone having a medication abortion must meet with an abortion provider in-person.

Self-managed abortion is not a crime in South Carolina. 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 form to speak with a lawyer.

To find an abortion provider, go to abortionfinder.org or ineedana.com.

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:

If you are under 17 years old

  • You have the right to get an abortion, but you must have the consent (written permission) of: 
    • One parent;
    • A legal guardian;
    • A grandparent; or
    • Any adult who has been acting as a parent to you (called in loco parentis) without a court order for at least the last 60 days.
  • If you cannot or do not want to involve one of the people listed above, or if they will 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 within 3 days (not including weekends or holidays) of when you ask for a judicial bypass. The court will also automatically give you 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 have the right to a free lawyer in a judicial bypass hearing. 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 form to speak with a lawyer.

You also have the right to travel to a state that does not have parental involvement laws.

To find an abortion provider, go to abortionfinder.org or ineedana.com.

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:

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