Does a father have the right to know if the mother is going to have an abortion?

This is a legal issue, not a health issue. Its also a thorny legal question. Essentially a father has little or no rights until the child is born.

While the rights to the child are in question, an abortion is a medical issue for the mother, which the father has no right to know about, have a say in or be a part of.

Thanks for all the help. I have a friend that got a girl pregnet and she decided to just up and leave and now she won't talk to him. Her daughter told my friend her mom was getting rid of the baby. My friend just wants to know what she is really going to do.

Nope---absolutely no right to know.

HOWEVER--if your friend lives in a state with a putative father registry, he should get on that registry so that if she DOES give birth, he knows--even if she isn't talking to him.

We are in California. How would he find out if there is one of those here?

California Adoption Laws, Page 5

California does not have a PFR. However, he should talk to his local social services office (or a family law lawyer!) about who to contact about establishing his rights if she DOES give birth

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Originally Posted by mcoots

Does a father have the right to know if the mother is going to have an abortion?

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I'd rather doubt it. It's her choice, her body and her medical records, which are private.

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Originally Posted by Synnen

California Adoption Laws, Page 5

California does not have a PFR. However, he should talk to his local social services office (or a family law lawyer!) about who to contact about establishing his rights if she DOES give birth

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He can actually file to establish himself as father and for custody right now, before the child is born. The court can make orders now, but they would, of course, be contingent on the child actually being born and would be effective only at the birth of the child. Naturally the mom cannot be enjoined from having an abortion, or leaving the state and giving birth elsewhere.

Well thanks for all the help.
I will let him know :(