West Virginia Divorce ~ Child Custody Deciding Factors
In West Virginia, the court will always decide in the child's best interests, by facilitating the following :
~ Stability of the child
~ Parental planning and agreement about the child's custodial arrangements and upbringing
~ Continuity of existing parent-child attachments
~ Meaningful contact between a child and each parent
~ Care taking relationships by adults who love their children, know how to provide for the child's needs, and who place a high priority on doing so
~ Security from exposure to physical or emotional harm
~ Expeditious, predictable decision making and avoidance of prolonged uncertainty respecting arrangements for the child's care and control
Source : West Virginia Code : Sections 48 - 9 -102, 48 - 11 -201