NEW JERSEY

Last Updated October 2025

Key: (S) State Law Found (F) Federal/other law may apply

See glossary for explanation of categories and definitions of terms.

GENERAL

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 9:17B-1 and 9:17B-3 provide that the age of majority is 18.

  • No statute was found in New Jersey law expressly defining emancipated minor in general or outlining a legal process by which a minor may emancipate; however, some statutes reference emancipation.

    In the context of abortion consent, N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-1.3 provides that “unemancipated minor” means a female under the age of 18 years who is unmarried and is not currently serving active duty in one of the military services of the United States of America or a female for whom a guardian has been appointed pursuant to N.J. .Stat. Ann. § 3B-12.25 because of a finding of incompetency. For the purposes of this act, pregnancy does not emancipate a female under the age of 18 years.

    For purposes of the “Scattered Site AIDS Permanent Housing Program,” N.J. Stat. Ann. § 55:14L-2 provides that an “emancipated minor” means a person who is under 18 years of age, but who has been married, has entered military service, has a child or is pregnant, or has previously been declared by a court or an administrative agency to be emancipated.

    For purposes of the “Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991,” N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:25-19 provides that an “emancipated minor” means a person who is under 18 years of age but who has been married, has entered military service, has a child or is pregnant or has been previously declared by a court or an administrative agency to be emancipated.

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. § 37:1-6 prohibits issuance of a marriage or civil union license to a minor under age 18 years, effective June 22, 2018.

CONSENT TO HEALTH CARE

Consent for healthcare refers to granting permission for a healthcare service.  A healthcare provider generally must obtain consent before providing care. Adults typically consent to their own healthcare, except in cases of legal incapacity. State and federal laws and court decisions help establish who has the legal authority to provide consent on behalf of minors. Typically, federal and state law require parent or guardian consent for a minor’s care. However, the laws in every state include exceptions that allow or require others to consent, in addition to or instead of a parent or guardian.  These exceptions include exceptions that allow minors to consent to some or all health care based on the minor’s “status” (situation in life) and exceptions that allow minors to consent to certain types of care based on the services sought.  Sometimes, these laws are written in a way that allows providers to offer services without parental consent; sometimes, they are written in a way that explicitly gives minors the authority to consent. Federal law also allows minors to consent to specific care in some cases.  See Appendix B for more on consent including the important role of parents and other adults in minors’ healthcare.

The following sections summarize the minor consent laws in the state:

Minor Consent–Minor Status

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-1 provides that a married minor may consent for medical or surgical care and procedure provided by a hospital or physician and for such purposes she is deemed to have the same legal capacity to act and shall have the same powers and obligations as has a person of legal age.

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-1 provides that a pregnant minor may consent to medical and surgical care and procedure by a hospital or physician, and for such purposes is deemed to have the same legal capacity to act and shall have the same powers and obligations as has a person of legal age.

Minor Consent–Services

  • Abortion is currently legal and protected in New Jersey. New Jersey laws include some restrictions that have been held unconstitutional under the New Jersey Constitution but have not been repealed. In 2022, the state enacted N.J. Stat. Ann. § 10:7-2, which provides: “Every individual present in the State, including, but not limited to, an individual who is under State control or supervision, shall have the fundamental right to: choose or refuse contraception or sterilization; and choose whether to carry a pregnancy, to give birth, or to terminate a pregnancy. The New Jersey Constitution recognizes the fundamental nature of the right to reproductive choice, including the right to access contraception, to terminate a pregnancy, and to carry a pregnancy to term, shall not be abridged by any law, rule, regulation, ordinance, or order issued by any State, county, or local governmental authority. Any law, rule, regulation, ordinance, or order, in effect on or adopted after the effective date of this act1, that is determined to have the effect of limiting the constitutional right to freedom of reproductive choice and that does not conform with the provisions and the express or implied purposes of this act, shall be deemed invalid and shall have no force or effect.” For up to date information on the status of abortion restrictions and protections, including shield laws, in New Jersey, see Center for Reproductive Rights, After Roe Fell: Abortion Laws by State.

    Minors may consent for abortion. In Planned Parenthood of Cent. N. J. v. Farmer, 762 A.2d 620 (N.J. 2000), the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 9:17A-1.1 - 9:17A-1.12, the state’s Parental Notification for Abortion Act, was unconstitutional under the equal protection principles of the New Jersey Constitution. The law is currently not being enforced.

    For up to date information on the status of abortion protections and restrictions in all 50 states and DC, see  Center for Reproductive Rights, After Roe Fell: Abortion Laws by State. See also Appendix C. These laws are changing rapidly, so consultation with counsel is also essential. 

  • No state statute was found that expressly authorizes minors to consent to family planning or contraceptives; however, N.J. Stat. Ann. § 10:7-2 passed in 2022 provides: “Every individual present in the State, including, but not limited to, an individual who is under State control or supervision, shall have the fundamental right to: choose or refuse contraception or sterilization[.]

    See Appendix I for information about the Title X Family Planning Program and minor consent for family planning, including contraception services. See Appendix C for discussion of contraception and the U.S. Constitution.

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-4 provides that minors age 16 years or older who believe they are in need of behavioral health care services for the treatment of mental illness or emotional disorders, the minor’s consent to “temporary outpatient services,” excluding the use or administration of medication, under the supervision of a licensed physician, licensed advanced practice nurse, or an individual licensed to provide professional counseling under Title 45 of the Revised Statutes, including, but not limited to, a psychiatrist, licensed practicing psychologist, certified social worker, licensed clinical social worker, licensed social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, certified psychoanalyst, or licensed psychologist, or in an outpatient health care facility licensed pursuant to N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 26:2H-1 et seq., is valid and binding as if the minor had achieved the age of majority. Any such consent shall not be subject to later disaffirmance by reason of minority.

    N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-4.1 provides that N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-4 “shall not be interpreted to interfere with any parental rights to place a child in treatment on a voluntary or involuntary basis under applicable State law” and that treatment programs shall not be required to admit minors. Treatment programs may establish their own admission and reimbursement criteria which may include parental notification and involvement.

    N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-4.2 provides that the Department of Children and Families shall prepare and make available on the department’s Internet website, in an easily printable format, information on the behavioral health provisions of N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-4.1, including, but not limited to, the provisions which specify that a minor’s consent to treatment under the supervision of a licensed physician, an advanced practice nurse, or an individual licensed to provide professional counseling under Title 45 of N.J. Revised Statutes is to be considered valid and binding as if the minor had achieved the age of majority, and the provisions which specify that treatment consented to by a minor is to be considered confidential information.

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-1 provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of the law, an unmarried, pregnant minor may give consent to the furnishing of hospital, medical and surgical care related to her pregnancy or her child.

    N.J. Stat. Ann. § 10:7-2 provides: “Every individual present in the State, including, but not limited to, an individual who is under State control or supervision, shall have the fundamental right to…choose whether to carry a pregnancy, to give birth, or to terminate a pregnancy.”

    See Appendix I for information about the Title X Family Planning Program and minor consent for family planning services, including certain pregnancy-related care.

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-4 provides that minors who, in the judgment of the treating health care professional, appear to have been sexually assaulted may consent to the provision of medical or surgical care or services, or a “forensic sexual assault examination” by a hospital or public clinic, or health care professional, Health care professional includes a physician, physician assistant, nurse, or other health care professional registered under Title 45 of N.J. Revised Statutes. Any such consent shall be valid and binding as if the minor had achieved the age of majority and shall not be subject to later disaffirmance by reason of minority.

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-4 provides that minors who have or believe they may have a sexually transmitted infection, or who are at least 13 years of age and have or believes they may be infected with the human immunodeficiency virus or have acquired immune deficiency syndrome, may consent to medical or surgical care or services or a forensic sexual assault examination by a hospital, public clinic, or health care professional. Health care professional includes a physician, physician assistant, nurse, or other health care professional registered under Title 45 of N.J. Revised Statutes. Any such consent shall be valid and binding as if the minor had achieved the age of majority and shall not be subject to later disaffirmance by reason of minority.

    See Appendix I for information about the Title X Family Planning Program and minor consent for family planning, including STI/STD/HIV services.

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-4 provides that when minors believe that they are “adversely affected by a substance use disorder involving drugs or have a substance use disorder involving drugs” as defined in N.J. Stat. Ann. § 24:21-2.2 or are adversely affected by an alcohol use disorder or have an alcohol use disorder as defined in N.J. Stat. Ann. § 26:2B-8.2, the minor’s consent to treatment under the supervision of a physician licensed to practice medicine, or an individual licensed or certified to provide treatment for an alcohol use disorder, or in a facility licensed by the State to provide for the treatment of an alcohol use disorder, shall be valid and binding as if the minor had achieved the age of majority and shall not be subject to later disaffirmance by reason of minority.

    N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-4.1 provides that this “act shall not be interpreted to interfere with any parental rights to place a child in treatment on a voluntary or involuntary basis under applicable State law” and that treatment programs shall not be required to admit minors. Treatment programs may establish their own admission and reimbursement criteria which may include parental notification and involvement.

CONFIDENTIALITY & DISCLOSURE

Federal and state laws determine the privacy and confidentiality of medical and health information.  Different laws may apply depending on the health services provided, the source of funding, the location of care, the type of provider, and the characteristics of the patient.

One law with overarching importance is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule, a federal regulation that protects the privacy of patient health information held by health care providers who transmit certain information electronically and other “covered entities.” As a general rule, HIPAA prohibits healthcare providers from disclosing protected health information without a signed authorization. HIPAA specifies who must sign an authorization to release information. When minors have consented for their own care, HIPAA says the minors usually must sign the release. HIPAA includes exceptions that allow or require a provider to disclose protected information without an authorization in some circumstances, such as to meet state child abuse reporting requirements. HIPAA also addresses when parents and guardians may access a minor’s health information: It explains how this HIPAA rule intersects with state law and other federal laws regarding parent access, and includes rules for what to do about parent access when state law is silent, and for authorized limitations on access in some situations.

See Appendix H for a detailed discussion of HIPAA. Other appendices address other important federal health privacy laws that may apply in addition to, or instead of, HIPAA. See Appendix I (Title X, family planning), Appendix J (Part 2, substance use), Appendix K (FERPA, education records), Appendix L (insurance and billing), and Appendix M (21st Century Cures Act Information Blocking, EHI).

The following sections summarize selected state laws related to confidentiality, access to records, and disclosure to parents/guardians:

Confidentiality/Access to Records

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 26:5C-7 and 26:5C-8 provide that health records which contain identifying information about a person suspected of having AIDS or HIV are confidential and may only be disclosed with the prior written informed consent of the person, except in enumerated circumstances. N.J. Stat. Ann. § § 26:5C-5 and 26:5C-13 provides that when consent is required for disclosure of the record of a person under age 12 who has or is suspected of having AIDS or HIV infection, consent shall be obtained from the parent, guardian, or other individual authorized under State law to act in the minor’s behalf

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. § 26:2J-27 provides that “data or information pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment, or health of any enrollee or applicant obtained from such person, or from any provider, by any health maintenance organization shall be held in confidence and shall not be disclosed” except upon the express consent of the enrollee or applicant or for other specified purposes. . See also N.J. Admin. Code §11:24-10.2.

  • N.J. Admin. Code § 13:42-8.5 provides that a licensee of the Board of Psychological Examiners shall preserve the confidentiality of information in the course of the licensee’s teaching, practice or investigation except in certain circumstances. N.J. Admin. Code § 13:42-8.6 provides that this provision, as well as N.J. Admin. Code §§ 13:42-8.3, and 8.4, apply to the records of minors (i.e. the rights of access to copy of client record, access by a managed health care plan to information in client record, and confidentiality).

    See Appendix H for information about minors’ access to and control of their medical information under HIPAA when they have consented to their own care. 

  • See Appendix K for information about federal confidentiality protection for education records. 

    See Appendix J for information about federal confidentiality protections for certain substance use treatment records.

     

    See Appendix I for information about federal confidentiality protection for information about services delivered using Title X Family Planning Program funding. 

    See Appendix M for information about disclosure of information to parents under the 21st Century Cures Act Information Blocking Rule.

Disclosure of Health Information to Parents/Guardians

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-5 provides that upon the advice and direction of a treating physician or, if more than one, any one of them, a member of the medical staff of a hospital, public clinic, or physician licensed to practice medicine, may, but shall not be obligated to, inform the spouse, parent, custodian or guardian of any such minor as to the treatment given or needed, and such information may be given to, or withheld from the spouse, parent, custodian or guardian without the consent of the minor patient and even over the express refusal of the minor patient to the providing of such information.

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-4 provides that treatment for behavioral health care services for mental illness or emotional disorders consented to by a minor shall be considered confidential information between the physician, the individual licensed to provide professional counseling, the advanced practice nurse, or the health care facility, as appropriate, and the patient, and neither the minor nor the minor’s physician, professional counselor, nurse, or outpatient health care facility, as appropriate, shall be required to report such treatment when it is the result of voluntary consent, except as otherwise required by law. However, N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-4.1 provides that N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-4 “shall not be interpreted to interfere with any parental rights to place a child in treatment on a voluntary or involuntary basis under applicable State law” and that treatment programs shall not be required to admit minors. Treatment programs may establish their own admission and reimbursement criteria which may include parental notification and involvement.

    N.J. Stat. Ann. § 45:14B-36 provides that a valid authorization to disclose protected information held by a psychologist must be signed “by the patient or the person authorizing the disclosure. If the patient is adjudicated incapacitated or is deceased, the authorization shall be signed by the patient’s legally authorized representative. When the patient is more than 14 years of age but has not yet reached majority, the authorization shall be signed by the patient and by the patient’s parent or legal guardian. When the patient is less than 14 years of age, the authorization shall be signed only by the patient’s parent or legal guardian.”  N.J. Admin. Code § 13:42-8.6 provides, however, the psychologist is not required to release to a minor’s parent or guardian records or information relating to the minor’s sexually transmitted disease, termination of pregnancy or substance abuse or any other information that in the reasonable exercise of the licensee’s professional judgment may adversely affect the minor’s health or welfare.

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-4 provides that in the case of a minor who appears to have been sexually assaulted, the minor’s parents or guardian shall be notified immediately, unless the treating healthcare professional believes that it is in the best interests of the patient not to do so. Inability of the treating health care professional, hospital, or clinic to locate or notify the parents or guardian shall not preclude the provision of any emergency or medical or surgical

    care to the minor or the performance of a forensic sexual assault examination on the minor.

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-4  provides that treatment for an alcohol use disorder or a substance use disorder involving drugs that is consented to by a minor shall be considered confidential information between the physician, the treatment provider, or the treatment facility, as appropriate, and the patient, and neither the minor nor the minor’s physician, treatment provider, or treatment facility, as appropriate, shall be required to report such treatment when it is the result of voluntary consent, except as may otherwise be required by law. However, N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-4.1 provides that N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-4 “shall not be interpreted to interfere with any parental rights to place a child in treatment on a voluntary or involuntary basis under applicable State law” and that treatment programs shall not be required to admit minors. Treatment programs may establish their own admission and reimbursement criteria which may include parental notification and involvement.

  • See Appendix H for information about minors’ access to and control of their medical information under HIPAA when they have consented to their own care, the HIPAA rule when state law is silent as to parent access, and the HIPAA rule authorizing providers to limit access to records in certain circumstances. 

  • See Appendix K for information about federal confidentiality protection for education records.

    See Appendix J for information about federal confidentiality protections for certain substance use treatment records.

    See Appendix I for information about federal confidentiality protection for information about services delivered using Title X Family Planning Program funding. 

    See Appendix M for information about disclosure of information to parents under the 21st Century Cures Act Information Blocking Rule.

Insurance Claims/ Billing

See Appendix L for information about confidentiality protection in the billing and insurance claims process under the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

OTHER

This section summarizes a range of laws that may not explicitly address minor consent or disclosure of information but that health care providers often have questions about when minors seek care, especially when they seek care on their own.

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. §26:6-80 provides that a minor age 14 years or older, may make an anatomical gift of the minor’s body or body part during the life of the minor for the purpose of transplantation, research, or education whether or not the minor is emancipated.

  • N.J. Const., Art. I, Para. 1, provides: “All persons are by nature free and independent, and have certain natural and unalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and of pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness.” This provision has been interpreted as protecting abortion rights in Right to Choose v. Byrne, 450 A.2d 925 (1982) and Planned Parenthood of Cent. New Jersey v. Farmer, 762 A.2d 620 (1999).

  • In Chiles v. Salazar, 116 F.4th 1178 (10th Cir. 2025), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit upheld Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for minors. On March 31, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the decision on First Amendment grounds and remanded the case to the 10th Circuit for reconsideration under a strict scrutiny standard of review. 607 U.S. ___ (2026). Consult with counsel about the implications of this decision for other states. For more information on laws related to conversion therapy for minors in all 50 states and DC, see Movement Advancement Project’s  “Equality Maps: Conversion “Therapy” Laws.” These laws are changing rapidly so consultation with counsel is essential.

  • There are no restrictions on access to gender affirming care for minors in New Jersey law at this time.

    The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee ban on gender affirming care for minors in United States v. Skrmetti, 605 U.S. 4945 (2025). For more information on the status of protections and restrictions on gender affirming care for minors, including shield laws, see Movement Advancement Project’s “Equality Maps: Bans on Best Practice Medical Care for Transgender Youth”  These laws are changing rapidly so consultation with counsel is essential.

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. § 18A:40-5.6 establishes a grant program to make available to students in grades seven through twelve a mental health screening for depression. N.J. Stat. Ann. § 18A:40-5.6(b)(1) provides, in part: “(d) the screenings shall be conducted in a manner that ensures the privacy of the student during the screening process and the confidentiality of the results, consistent with State and federal laws applicable to the confidentiality of student records and mental health records; (e) pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2001, c.364 (C.18A:36-34), the school district shall obtain written informed consent from a student’s parent or guardian prior to the screening; (f) the school district shall develop a form to obtain permission from a student’s parent or guardian to conduct the screening[.[‘

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17A-1 provides that married or pregnant minors may consent for medical or surgical care and procedure by a hospital or physician for their child.

  • In 2022, the state enacted N.J. Stat. Ann. § 10:7-2 which provides: “Every individual present in the State, including, but not limited to, an individual who is under State control or supervision, shall have the fundamental right to: choose or refuse contraception or sterilization; and choose whether to carry a pregnancy, to give birth, or to terminate a pregnancy.  The New Jersey Constitution recognizes the fundamental nature of the right to reproductive choice, including the right to access contraception, to terminate a pregnancy, and to carry a pregnancy to term, shall not be abridged by any law, rule, regulation, ordinance, or order issued by any State, county, or local governmental authority.  Any law, rule, regulation, ordinance, or order, in effect on or adopted after the effective date of this act, that is determined to have the effect of limiting the constitutional right to freedom of reproductive choice and that does not conform with the provisions and the express or implied purposes of this act, shall be deemed invalid and shall have no force or effect.”

  • New Jersey has passed a series of laws to provide protections for health care providers against disciplinary actions, adverse licensing actions, and civil actions both in state and from out of state based solely on the provision, assistance, or support for reproductive health care services that are permitted under the laws of the state and were provided in accordance with the applicable standard of care. Examples of these laws are found at  N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 2A:84A-22.18, 2A:84A-22.19, and 2A:160-14.1.

    In 2023, the New Jersey Governor signed Executive Order 326, which includes protections designed to shield health care providers when they legally provide gender affirming care services in the state and protect patients who receive this care. For purposes of this Executive Order, “gender affirming care” is defined to include “care that addresses a transgender or non-binary person’s physical, mental, and/or social health needs and that is designed to support and affirm a transgender or non-binary person’s gender identity, including, but not limited to, mental health or psychiatric care; surgery, hormone replacement therapy, and other nonsurgical treatments intended to align aspects of a person’s life with their gender identity; and other behavioral or medical interventions, treatments, and therapies designed to support and affirm an individual’s gender identity.” Read Executive Order 326 here.

    For up to date information on the status of abortion protections including shield laws in all 50 states, see Center for Reproductive Rights, After Roe Fell: Abortion Laws by State

    For up to date information on shields laws for gender affirming care, see  see Movement Advancement Project’s “Equality Maps: Bans on Best Practice Medical Care for Transgender Youth”.

  • N.J. Stat. Ann. § 45:1-62 contains requirements for providers of  telemedicine and telehealth.  N.J. Stat. Ann. § 45:1-62(d)(1) provides:  “(1) Any health care provider providing health care services using telemedicine or telehealth shall be subject to the same standard of care or practice standards as are applicable to in-person settings. If telemedicine or telehealth services would not be consistent with this standard of care, the health care provider shall direct the patient to seek in-person care.”

RESOURCES

New Jersey Statutes https://lis.njleg.state.nj.us/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates&fn=default.htm&vid=Publish:10.1048/Enu

New Jersey Administrative Code https://www.nj.gov/oal/rules/accessp/

APPENDICES

Appendix A. Glossary of Terms

Appendix B. Overview of Consent and Confidentiality When Minors Seek Health Care

Appendix C. Contraception, Abortion, and Pregnancy-Related Care for Minors: Consent and Confidentiality Considerations

Appendix D. Sexually Transmitted Infections, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and HIV Care for Minors: Consent and Confidentiality Considerations

Appendix E. Mental Health Care for Minors: Consent and Confidentiality Considerations

Appendix F. Substance Use Care for Minors: Consent and Confidentiality Considerations

Appendix G. Gender Affirming Care for Minors: Consent and Confidentiality Considerations

Appendix H. HIPAA Privacy Rule and Confidentiality Implications for Minors’ Health Information

Appendix I. Title X Family Planning Program and Family Planning Services for Minors

Appendix J. 42 CFR Part 2 and Confidentiality Implications for Substance Use Care for Minors

Appendix K. FERPA and Confidentiality Implications for School-Based and School-Linked Health Care for Minors

Appendix L. Confidentiality in Health Insurance Claims and Billing

Appendix M. Electronic Health Information, the 21st Century Cures Act, and Confidentiality for Minor Patients

Appendix N. State Law Table: Minor Consent/Access Based on Status

Appendix O. State Law Table: Minor Consent/Access for Specific Services

Authors

Abigail English, JD, Consultant, National Center for Youth Law

Rebecca Gudeman, JD, MPA, Managing Director, Health & Wellbeing, National Center for Youth Law

National Center for Youth Law

The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) is a national, non-profit advocacy organization that has fought to protect the rights of children and youth for more than fifty years. Headquartered in Oakland, California, NCYL leads high impact campaigns that weave together litigation, research, policy development, and technical assistance.

What this compendium is:

This is a compendium of laws that may be relevant when minors wish to access certain types of sensitive health care and/or wish to access care on their own consent. Each state compendium begins with a chart entitled “quick guide.” The topics listed in the quick guide represent the categories of laws most frequently identified across all states. A circle next to a particular category signifies that a relevant state or federal law was found. Where a law was found, those laws are described in the “summary” section. Each state’s compendium ends with a list of resources, including links to a series of Appendices that delve deeper into key topics.

What this compendium is not:

This is not a comprehensive guide to all consent, confidentiality, and disclosure laws in any state. For example, the compendium does not include all laws that allow or require parents or persons acting in loco parentis to consent to care. Nor does it summarize disclosure laws that may allow or require disclosure of health information for mandated child abuse or public health reporting.

Recommended Citation

For the entire compendium of state laws,

English A, Gudeman R. Minor Consent and Confidentiality: A Compendium of State and Federal Laws. National Center for Youth Law (2025).

For a particular state,

English A, Gudeman R. Minor Consent and Confidentiality: A Compendium of State and Federal Laws (State name). National Center for Youth Law (October 2025).

Disclaimer

Minor Consent and Confidentiality: A Compendium of State and Federal Laws is made available for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or representation. Laws can be interpreted in different ways. For legal advice, a practicing attorney who has comprehensive knowledge of all relevant laws – federal state, and local – and who has been informed of all relevant details of the situation should be consulted. The authors have attempted to assure that the information presented is accurate as of of October 2025. However, laws change frequently, new regulations are promulgated, and cases decided. This publication is provided as-is. The National Center for Youth Law and the authors neither represent nor warrant that the information contained in this publication is free from errors. If you rely on this publication, you assume all risks involved. The National Center for Youth Law and the authors explicitly disclaim any liability for injury, loss, or risk incurred as a consequence, either directly or indirectly of the use, reliance upon, or application of any material in this publication.

Acknowledgements

This work was made possible through the generous support of the Collaborative for Gender and Reproductive Equity, a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. The authors sincerely thank National Center for Youth Law attorneys Pallavi Bugga, Nina Monfredo, and Rachel Smith for their contributions to this work. The authors also gratefully acknowledge the extensive resources of the many organizations and individuals whose work provided essential information for this publication.

Copyright ©2025 National Center for Youth Law

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