Spousal Notice

A court held that Rhode Island's husband notification requirement for abortion is unconstitutional. Planned Parenthood of R.I. v. Bd. of Med. Review, 598 F. Supp. 625 (D.R.I. 1984).

This law provides that a married woman may not obtain an abortion unless her husband has been notified, except if: she is living apart from her husband; she provides a written statement that "the fetus was not fathered by her husband"; either spouse has filed for divorce; or "there is an emergency requiring immediate action." R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. §§ 23-4.8-1 to -4.8-5 (Enacted 1982).

The U.S. Supreme Court held that requiring a woman to notify her husband prior to an abortion is unconstitutional. Planned Parenthood of S.E. Pa. v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992).