Legal Question in Family Law in Iowa

Re: 16 yr old pregnant. Can father force abortion?

A father may not be able to force an abortion.

But, he can seek Rape prosecution and jail time for the man who impregnated his 16 yr old daughter.

Also, if he is compelled to continue to financially support her, even when she is pregnant and has the baby, he can make life a living Hell, in everyway he can.

She should not expect her father to change his position or attitude toward her or her child after it's birth. Those "changes" like you see on TV, are the exceptions, not the rule.

If the daughter insists on having this baby, she should expect to be fully self supporting and get away from her family ASAP. The consequences of HER decision/s should be hers and hers alone. She should not seek to impose her personal choice, ie., to have, care and support a baby on someone who does not want it.

GOOD LUCK,

PHROSKA L. McALISTER,ESQ

Re: 16 yr old pregnant. Can father force abortion?

A sixteen year old may become emancipated by marriage but otherwise is unemancipated until age 18. I do not believe there is any legal basis for a father to compel an abortion.