West Virginia Code

WVC 48- CHAPTER 48. DOMESTIC RELATIONS.
WVC 48 - 5 A- ARTICLE 5A. COLLABORATIVE FAMILY LAW PROCEEDINGS.
WVC 48 - 5 A- 101 §48-5A-101. Legislative findings.
The Legislature finds that parties to family law actions often have particular needs and interests that may not be addressed through traditional litigation. The Legislature also finds that in the area of family law there may be an alternative approach to dispute resolution which targets settlement from the outset and which employs cooperative negotiation and problem solving that encourages compromise and direct communication among the parties.

WVC 48 - 5 A- 102 §48-5A-102. Collaborative law generally; requesting the Supreme Court to study collaborative law procedures for possible implementation in this state.
(a) Collaborative law is a procedure in which parties who are involved in family law matters and the involved attorneys agree in writing to use their best efforts and make a good-faith attempt to resolve their disputes arising from family law matters on an agreed basis without resorting to judicial intervention, except to have a court approve the settlement agreement, make the legal pronouncements and sign the orders required by law to effectuate the agreement of the parties as the court determines appropriate.

(b) Several states have passed laws adopting collaborative law procedures. The Legislature requests that the Supreme Court of Appeals study the use of collaborative law procedures in the family courts of this state and, should the court find that the procedures would be an effective alternative approach to dispute resolution in family law matters, promulgate rules for the implementation of the collaborative law procedures. The Legislature further requests that the Supreme Court of Appeals present its findings and any rules promulgated to the Legislature at the regular session of the Legislature, 2009.

Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session

Recent legislation affecting the Code

Citation	Year/Session	Short Title
§48 - 25 - 101 - (Amended Code)	SENATE BILL - 60 PASSED - Regular Session SB60 SUB1 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating to name-change notice publication requirements
§48 - 25 A- 1 - (Repealed Code) §48 - 25 A- 2 - (Repealed Code) §48 - 25 A- 3 - (Repealed Code) §48 - 27 A- 1 - (Repealed Code) §48 - 27 A- 2 - (Repealed Code) §48 - 27 A- 3 - (Repealed Code)	SENATE BILL - 108 PASSED - Regular Session SB108 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Creating Fatality and Mortality Review Team
§48 - 18 - 132 - (Amended Code)	SENATE BILL - 407 PASSED - Regular Session SB407 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating generally to child support orders
§48 - 27 - 601 - (Amended Code)	SENATE BILL - 538 PASSED - Regular Session SB538 SUB1 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating generally to disposition of domestic violence orders
§48 - 26 - 202 - (Amended Code) §48 - 26 - 203 - (Amended Code) §48 - 26 - 204 - (Amended Code) §48 - 26 - 205 - (Amended Code) §48 - 26 - 206 - (Amended Code) §48 - 26 - 207 - (New Code) §48 - 26 - 208 - (New Code) §48 - 26 - 209 - (New Code) §48 - 26 - 210 - (New Code) §48 - 26 - 211 - (New Code) §48 - 26 - 212 - (New Code) §48 - 26 - 213 - (New Code) §48 - 26 - 214 - (New Code) §48 - 26 - 301 - (Amended Code) §48 - 26 - 401 - (Amended Code) §48 - 26 - 402 - (Amended Code) §48 - 26 - 403 - (Amended Code) §48 - 26 - 404 - (Repealed Code) §48 - 26 - 405 - (Repealed Code) §48 - 26 - 406 - (Amended Code) §48 - 26 - 408 - (New Code) §48 - 26 - 601 - (Repealed Code) §48 - 26 - 602 - (Repealed Code) §48 - 26 - 603 - (Amended Code) §48 - 26 - 604 - (Amended Code) §48 - 26 - 701 - (Amended Code) §48 - 26 - 901 - (Repealed Code) §48 - 26 - 902 - (Repealed Code) §48 - 26 -1001 - (Amended Code) §48 - 26 -1002 - (Amended Code) §48 - 26 -1003 - (Repealed Code) §48 - 26 -1004 - (Amended Code) §48 - 26 -1005 - (Repealed Code) §48 - 26 -1006 - (Repealed Code) §48 - 26 -1007 - (Repealed Code)	HOUSE BILL - 2603 PASSED - Regular Session HB2603 SUB ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating to the Family Protection Services Board
§48 - 2 - 604 - (Repealed Code)	HOUSE BILL - 3161 PASSED - Regular Session HB3161 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Repealing section relating to additional fee to be collected for each marriage license issued

West Virginia Code *

Recent legislation affecting the Code