West Virginia Rules of Procedure for Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings – 2026

Rule 1 Scope of child abuse and neglect rules Rule 2 Purpose of child abuse and neglect rules; construction and enforcement Rule 3 Definitions Rule 3a Pre-petition Investigations Rule 4 Transfer and consolidation Rule 4a Venue Rule 5 Contemporaneous civil, criminal, and other proceedings Rule 6 Maintaining case on court docket Rule 6a Confidentiality of Proceedings and Records; Access by Family Court Rule 7 Time Computation; extensions of time and continuances Rule 8 Testimony of children; inclusion of children in hearings and multidisciplinary treatment team meetings Rule 9 Use of closed circuit television testimony Rule 10 Discovery Rule 11 Motion to compel, limit, or deny discovery Rule 12 Judicial management of discovery Rule 13 Preservation of records and exhibits Rule 14 Telephone or video conferences Rule 15 Visitation Rule 16 Emergency custody Rule 16a Required Entry of Support Orders Rule 17 Pleadings allowed, Form of motions and other papers Rule 18 Contents of petition Rule 18a Appointments; responsibilities of guardian ad litem Rule 19 Amendments to petition Rule 20 Notice of first hearing Rule 21 Effect of personal service on only one parent Rule 22 Preliminary hearing Rule 23 Preadjudicatory improvement period; family case plan; status conference Rule 24 Adjudicatory prehearing conference Rule 25 Time of final adjudicatory hearing Rule 26 Stipulated adjudications, uncontested petitions, contents of written reports and admissions Rule 27 Findings; adjudication order Rule 28 Disposition report by Department – The Child's case plan; contents of the child's case plan Rule 29 Notice of the child's case plan Rule 30 Exchange of information before disposition hearing Rule 31 Notice of disposition hearing Rule 32 Time of disposition hearing Rule 33 Stipulated disposition, contents of stipulation, voluntariness Rule 34 Rulings on objections to the child's case plan Rule 35 Uncontested termination of parental rights and contested termination and contests to the case plan Rule 36 Findings; disposition order Rule 36a Permanency hearing Rule 37 Improvement period; status conference Rule 38 Hearing after improvement period; final disposition Rule 39 Permanent placement review Rule 40 Permanent placement review reports Rule 41 Permanent placement review conference Rule 42 Findings at permanent placement review; order Rule 43 Time for permanent placement Rule 44 Foster care review Rule 45 Review following permanent placement; reporting permanent placement changes Rule 46 Modification or supplementation of court order; stipulations Rule 47 Status conference Rule 48 Separate hearing on issue of paternity Rule 49 Accelerated appeal for child abuse and neglect and termination of parental rights cases Rule 50 Stays on appeal Rule 51 Multidisciplinary treatment teams Rule 52 Court-appointed special advocate (CASA) representative Rule 53 Case status reporting Rule 54 Transitioning Adults Rule 55 Qualified Residential Treatment Programs