# W. Va. Code § 48-9-102: Objectives; best interests of the child

> West Virginia · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C48_A9_S102

## Section

- **Citation:** W. Va. Code § 48-9-102
- **Heading:** Objectives; best interests of the child
- **Jurisdiction:** West Virginia
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** WV Code / Chapter 48 / Article 9 / Section 102

## Text

(a) The primary objective of this article is to serve the child’s best interests by facilitating:

(1) Stability of the child;

(2) Collaborative parental planning and agreement about the child’s custodial arrangements and upbringing;

(3) Continuity of existing parent-child attachments;

(4) Meaningful contact between a child and each parent, and which is rebuttably presumed to be equal (50-50) custodial allocation of the child;

(5) Caretaking and parenting 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;

(6) Security from exposure to physical or emotional harm;

(7) Expeditious, predictable decisionmaking and avoidance of prolonged uncertainty respecting arrangements for the child’s care and control; and

(8) Meaningful contact between a child and his or her siblings, including half-siblings.

(b) A secondary objective of this article is to achieve fairness between the parents consistent with the rebuttable presumption of equal (50-50) custodial allocation.

## Nearby sections

- [W. Va. Code § 48-9-101 §48-9-101. Scope of article; legislative findings and declarations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C48_A9_S101.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 48-9-102 §48-9-102. Objectives; best interests of the child.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C48_A9_S102.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 48-9-102A §48-9-102a Presumption in favor of equal (50-50) custodial allocation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C48_A9_S102A.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 48-9-103 §48-9-103. Parties to an action under this article.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C48_A9_S103.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 48-9-104 §48-9-104. Parent education classes.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C48_A9_S104.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 48-9-105 §48-9-105. Venue for custodial allocation actions independent of divorce.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C48_A9_S105.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 48-9-201 §48-9-201. Parenting agreements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C48_A9_S201.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 48-9-202 §48-9-202. Court-ordered services.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C48_A9_S202.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 48-9-203 §48-9-203. Proposed temporary parenting plan; temporary order; amendment.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C48_A9_S203.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 48-9-204 §48-9-204. Criteria for temporary parenting plan.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C48_A9_S204.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 48-9-205 §48-9-205. Permanent parenting plan.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C48_A9_S205.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 48-9-206 §48-9-206. Allocation of custodial responsibility at final hearing.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C48_A9_S206.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 48-9-207 §48-9-207. Allocation of significant decision-making responsibility at temporary or final hearing.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C48_A9_S207.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 48-9-208 §48-9-208. Parental dispute resolution.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C48_A9_S208.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C48_A9_S102. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.