Frequently Asked Questions

The RLDF launched in June 2021 to provide financial support needed to mount strong defenses for those being investigated, arrested, or prosecuted for ending their own pregnancy. People who self-manage abortion -- either because they can’t access a clinic, or because it’s the care that feels right to them -- can have their lawyers contact the RLDF for financial support for their criminal cases.

Abortion is legal everywhere in the United States, but politically motivated police and prosecutors have still targeted dozens of people for ending their own pregnancies. In some of the states where prosecutions have taken place, people have been convicted and others have had their cases dismissed. Regardless, no one who is prosecuted for ending their own pregnancy should have to worry about paying for a strong legal defense on top of the stress, fear, and trauma caused by being caught up in the criminal punishment system. The Repro Legal Defense Fund provides real, tangible financial support to help pay for legal fees and the strongest possible defense for those who are criminally prosecuted.

Being criminalized is costly -- emotionally and financially. The RLDF currently provides financial support for criminal cases where there are allegations of self-managing an abortion. The Repro Legal Defense Fund can help by paying for costs associated with fighting back against these prosecutions. These costs include:

• Bail / bond [the amount of money the court requires in order to release an individual accused of a crime from pre-trial detention]
• Attorney Fees [the money an attorney charges for their services]
• Experts & Expert Witnesses [someone with specialized knowledge and training that provides an expert opinion for a criminal case - e.g. medical experts, forensic psychologists, etc.]
• Court Costs [court fees and fines]

If you or someone you know is being investigated or prosecuted for allegedly self-managing an abortion, please submit our non-attorney form or ask the attorney on the case to fill out our attorney application.

Attorneys representing individuals charged with crimes related to self-managed abortion can apply to the fund to cover expensive litigation costs, to ensure that no one is deprived of a robust defense due to a lack of funds. Please ask the attorney on your case to fill out our attorney application.

While the Repro Legal Defense Fund does not currently provide referrals to attorneys, we may be able to provide you with helpful general information about public defenders and bail funds in your region, or make a referral to If/When/How's Law & Policy team for further assistance. If you are not a lawyer but are being investigated, have been arrested, charged, or prosecuted for allegedly self-managing an abortion, please submit our non-attorney form. 

You can also contact the Repro Legal Helpline for general information and legal advice

Once you have an attorney, we will work with you to pay attorneys fees as well as other costs associated with your defense.

Regardless of what the specific criminal charges are, if you are being accused of attempting to terminate your own pregnancy or successfully doing so, we believe you are being unjustly punished for allegedly self-managing an abortion. Even if you are unsure, please feel free to fill out our non-attorney form or have your attorney contact us directly by filling out this form for financial support. 

If you are not a lawyer but have been contacted by the police regarding an investigation for allegedly self-managing an abortion, please submit our non-attorney form You can also find general information about your rights when being questioned by police, here.

Yes. Please ask the attorney on the case to fill out our attorney application. 

Additionally, you can look up bail funds by region here in order to see if you can receive immediate local assistance.

For answers to common questions about self-managed abortion, please visit our helpline page.

General inquiries can be sent to [email protected]

The RLDF is a member managed LLC, with If/When/how as the sole member. This means that the RLDF is a separate legal entity from If/When/How. The RLDF works closely with If/When/How to work towards a future when all people can self-determine their reproductive lives free from discrimination, coercion, or violence.

You can help cover bail and fund strong defenses for people who are investigated, arrested, or prosecuted for self-managed abortion through this secure online form. You can also mail a check to our national office:

If/When/How
ATTN: Development
1714 Franklin Street #100-393
Oakland, CA 94612

The Repro Legal Defense Fund at If/When/How is a tax-exempt nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Your gift is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law under our tax ID number: 90-0181944.