An unemancipated minor is 1) a person under 18 years of age (normal definition), 2) not previously married (because marriage under age of 18 requires parental signature and
emancipates the minor), 3) not in the Armed Services (because entering the Armed Services under the age of 18 years
of age requires parental signature which emancipates the minor), and finally, 4) not previously emancipated by court proceedings initiated by your parents or the State.
We are legally required to inform your parents (or guardian) of your intention to get an abortion.
This can be satisfied by one of three ways.
The first, most direct and quick way is for you to TELL your parent(s) or legal guardian
(court guardianship paperwork required) about your intention to get an abortion and then get them to
SIGN and HAVE NOTARIZED the Parental Notification Form acknowledging that you might
get an abortion. They obviously will know about the abortion by then. This is not always the
end-of-the-world; your parents will probably understand. You would be surprised at how many moms
have had an abortion. Remember, your parents have had sex before you were born, and yes, they may
have had sex before they met your other parent and had an unintended pregnancy and gotten an abortion.
Abortions have been legal federally (all states) since 1973, and in some states like Kansas and
New York that legalized sooner, since 1970. Parents just don't talk about such things because it's
taboo (fault of the proLifers' propaganda machine). Give your parents a chance, but if not, try
the other options.
The second way is for us to send a Certified Letter addressed to your parent(s). They will
receive this official anonymous letter from us. They must sign the green Return Receipt card
which the postman keeps before they may open our letter. Once they accept the letter, the postman
sends the green Return Receipt form back to us and that is our proof that we have notified your
parents. Your parents will not know what the letter is when they sign for it. This is the
Pop-Goes-the-Weasel variety, also-known-as the Certified Letter of Parental
Notification. When they accept the letter, whether they agree or not with abortion, WE have
met the legal criteria of Notification, and you can get an abortion at any clinic with that
green card which we will hold. Your parents will obviously know about the abortion. This option is
good if you don't care if your parents know but you know they won't sign the previous mentioned
Parental Notification Form.
Or, thirdly, we can do a Judicial Waiver to Parental
Notification. This is an option when you DO NOT want to involve your parent(s) or
guardian(s). This is an option that many minors choose because of real fears of violent physical
punishment, being disowned by your family, boyfriend getting physically hurt by the parents,
boyfriend is psycho, you do not live with your parents, or other reasons. A Judicial Waiver does
not cost you any extra money. Kansas taxpayers pay for your attorney just like Public Defenders
for poor adults in criminal cases. The abortion will still cost you. The Courts have 48 hours to
get you processed once their paperwork is started. Step One consists of getting your sonogram done
with us and getting your Minor Counseling done (sonogram fees and Counseling fees expected at time
of service). Next we will give you a copy of your signed Counseling Form that you must give to your
attorney, and copies of the Wyandotte County Court forms for a Judicial Waiver, phone number to
your nice female attorney for the Judicial Waiver, and directions to the Wyandotte County Juvenile
Courthouse (812 N. 7th St.). Your attorney will set up the appointment with your administrative
judge (not criminal judge) who deals with minors and family matters for sometime in the next couple
of days. The judge will ask questions to ascertain (figure out) your level of responsibility and
maturity with respect to getting an abortion without involving your parents. Don't worry about the
judge, be confident and polite. The judge is nice too. You do not need to lie to the judge. The judge
will grant your Waiver as long as he does not hear frivolous silly answers. We need a copy of that
Waiver the judge signs to do your abortion. Getting out of school to come here for counseling and
sono, or for the court date will be your responsibility. We can write a medical excuse for the
counseling and sono date, and the abortion date, but not for the court date.
Other Requirements
- Photo identification (name & face, and hopefully a date-of-birth) and not bogus looking.
State ID is the preferred identification method (requires a birth certificate and Social Security
card at any Department of Revenue licensing Bureau). A recent school yearbook will work if there is no
school ID. The yearbook must somehow specify the age of the minor.
- Your Birth Certificate or Guardianship court documents if either Parental Notification
or Certified Letter of Notification are used. Guardianship is a court thing. Just living with your
relatives does not count as official guardianship.
- Someone 21 years of age or older who doesn't work for us MUST accompany you during your
"Minor Counseling" which is required in all cases. We will copy their photo ID. They do not have
to be related to you.
For Parents of Minor Children, Who Disagree With Abortion
If you are a Parent who disagrees with this page helping your child get an abortion, here are your
options: 1.You can try to dissuade your daughter from getting an abortion by either coersion or bribery; or, 2.You can Emancipate your daughter so that you are no longer responsible for her.
If you try to dissuade your daughter from getting an abortion, you may then earn the permanent hate of your daughter. (Remember, your children decide what nursing home you go to.) She did not
listen to your lecture about not having sex, what makes you think she will take your suggestions now? Forcing her to have a child she does not want to bear (wrongful birth), regardless of whether
adoption or for keeps could get you sued after she turns 18 years of age. And you cannot force her to adopt out her child. Depending upon the age of your daughter, the lack of parental supervision
that allowed your underage daughter to have sex constitutes parental neglect. Whether the prosecutors in your county will prosecute is the next issue. That's just food for thought.
You are responsible for your child's healthcare. Not doing so is considered neglect. If there is a complication from an abortion (highly unlikely), you are responsible for that care. If you do not
wish to be responsible for her possible post-abortion healthcare costs, you may emancipate her, making her entirely responsible for herself. On the otherhand, if she delivers a child, you are also
responsible for your child's health care and your grandchild's health care, all maternity and neonatal/pediatric costs and complication, until your child turns 18. Minor emancipation would relieve
you of that financial burden.
I know this upsets parents to know that they are responsible for the child's possible post-abortion health care. Well, you are also responsible for your little girl's health care when she crashed
her bike (not your wish or decision), or when she got older and was in a car crash (the driver, a boyfriend you did not like, was drinking)(not your wish or decision). Children don't always make
the decisions we would like. Children cost parents money, break things around the house, cause problems with neighbors, and sometimes hurt family reputations. But hopefully they will learn before
they leave your house at 18 years of age, before you go broke, before the break everything in the house, cause a war with the neighbors, break you heart, or disgrace the family. And sometimes
children will make the right decisions and we get to indirectly reap the benefits. There is no guarantee. Welcome to parenthood.
Laws Regarding Minors
Although some of these laws are listed eldsewhere, for the sake of overview, all laws that we know of regarding minors or the practice of medicine and minors are listed here.
