West Virginia Child Custody Factors

In West Virginia, the court will always make a decision in the child’s best interests, by facilitating:

(A) Stability of the child;

(B) Parental planning and agreement about the child’s custodial arrangements and upbringing;

(C) Continuity of existing parent-child attachments;

(D) Meaningful contact between a child and each parent;

(E) Caretaking relationships by adults who love the child, know how to provide for the child’s needs, and who place a high priority on doing so;

(F) Security from exposure to physical or emotional harm; and

(G) Expeditious, predictable decision-making and avoidance of prolonged uncertainty respecting arrangements for the child’s care and control. (West Virginia Code - Sections: 48-9-102, 48-9-201, 48-11-201)