Rule 86 Effective date

This rule explains when the civil procedure rules actually start being used. The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals picks a specific date when new rules, or changes to existing rules, go into effect. That date is spelled out in the court's official order.

Once a rule takes effect, it applies to any new case filed after that date. It can also apply to cases that are already in progress, but only when it makes sense and is fair to use the new rule in that situation. This means if you have an ongoing case, a court might apply an updated rule to your case, but judges will look at whether doing so would be practical and just given where the case already stands.

In short, this rule is about timing. It sets up how and when new or changed rules start applying to real cases, both new ones and ones already underway.