2022 West Virginia Code
Chapter 48. Domestic Relations
Article 9. Allocation of Custodial Responsibility and Decision-Making Responsibility of Children
§48-9-205. Permanent Parenting Plan
(a) A party seeking a judicial allocation of custodial responsibility or decision-making responsibility under this article shall file a proposed parenting plan with the court. Parties may file a joint plan. A proposed plan shall be verified and shall state, to the extent known or reasonably discoverable by the filing party or parties:
(1) The name, address, and length of residence of any adults with whom the child has lived for one year or more, or in the case of a child less than one year of age, any adults with whom the child has lived since the childs birth;
(2) The name and address of each of the childs parents and any other individuals with standing to participate in the action under 48-9-103 of this code;
(3) A description of the allocation of caretaking and other parenting responsibilities performed by each person named in 48-9-205(a)(1) and 48-9-205(a)(2) of this code;
(4) A description of the work and child-care schedules of any person seeking an allocation of custodial responsibility and any expected changes to these schedules in the near future;
(5) A description of the childs school and extracurricular activities;
(6) A description of any of the criteria described in 48-9-209 of this code that are present, including any restraining orders against either parent to prevent domestic or family violence, by case number and jurisdiction;
(7) Required financial information; and
(8) A description of the known areas of agreement and disagreement with any other parenting plan submitted in the case.
The court shall maintain the confidentiality of any information required to be filed under this section when the person giving that information has a reasonable fear of domestic abuse, and disclosure of the information would increase that fear.
(b) The court shall develop a process to identify cases in which there is credible information that child abuse or neglect as defined in 49-1-201 of this code or domestic violence as defined in 48-27-202 of this code has occurred. The process shall include assistance for possible victims of domestic abuse in complying with 48-9-205(a)(6) of this code and referral to appropriate resources for safe shelter, counseling, safety planning, information regarding the potential impact of domestic abuse on children, and information regarding civil and criminal remedies for domestic abuse. The process shall also include a system for ensuring that jointly submitted parenting plans that are filed in cases in which there is credible information that child abuse or domestic abuse has occurred receive the court review that is mandated by 48-9-202(b) of this code.
(c) Upon motion of a party and after consideration of the evidence, the court shall order a parenting plan consistent with the provisions of 48-9-206 through 48-9-209 of this code, containing:
(1) A provision for the childs living arrangements and each parents custodial responsibility, which shall include either:
(A) A custodial schedule that designates in which parents home each minor child will reside on given days of the year; or
(B) A formula or method for determining a schedule in sufficient detail that, if necessary, the schedule can be enforced in subsequent proceedings by the court;
(2) An allocation of decision-making responsibility as to significant matters reasonably likely to arise with respect to the child;
(3) A provision consistent with 48-9-202 of this code for resolution of disputes that arise under the plan and remedies for violations of the plan;
(4) Provisions for the financial support of the child or children; and
(5) A plan for the custody of the child if one or both of the parents as a member of the National Guard, a reserve component, or an active duty component are mobilized, deployed, or called to active duty.
(d) A parenting plan may, at the courts discretion, contain provisions that address matters that are expected to arise in the event of a partys relocation, or provide for future modifications in the parenting plan if specified contingencies occur.
