In California, abortion is legal up to the point of fetal viability, which is generally around 24 weeks of pregnancy
. After viability, abortions are still permitted if necessary to protect the life or health (including physical or mental health) of the pregnant person
. More specifically:
- Medication abortion (abortion pills) is available up to 11 weeks after the first day of the last menstrual period
- In-clinic surgical abortion is offered up to 16 weeks in many clinics, with some options available up to 24 weeks or later depending on circumstances and clinic capabilities
- Beyond 24 weeks, abortion is allowed only for cases where the fetus is not viable or to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person
California's state constitution explicitly protects abortion rights, and the state has strong legal protections ensuring access to abortion up to viability and exceptions thereafter
. Thus, while there is no absolute cut-off date, the practical legal limit is around 24 weeks, with exceptions for later abortions based on medical necessity.
