West Virginia Rules of Practice and Procedure for Domestic Violence Civil Proceedings – 2026
The Rules of Practice and Procedure for Domestic Violence Civil Proceedings in the magistrate and family courts of West Virginia. Coverage runs from scope and the petition for a protective order, through emergency and final hearings, service and enforcement, to modification, appeal and time computation.
Browse all 38 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.
Rule 1
Scope; conflicts
Rule 2
Terminology
Rule 3
Effective Date
Rule 4
Fees
Rule 5
Waiver of fees and costs for indigents
Rule 6
Confidentiality of court records
Rule 7
Persons allowed to be present during hearing; unofficial recording of domestic violence civil proceeding prohibited
Rule 8
Filing of petitions and other pleadings
Rule 9
Answer; Counterclaim by Respondent treated as a petition for protective order
Rule 9a
Protective orders entered pursuant to a divorce action
Rule 9b
Automatic extensions of protective orders
Rule 9c
Family court order upon issuance of automatic extension
Rule 10
Notice of family court final hearing
Rule 10a
Protective orders and child custody
Rule 10b
Protective orders and firearms
Rule 11
Service
Rule 11a
Order of publication
Rule 12
Filing and service by facsimile transmission
Rule 13
Judicial economy and consolidation
Rule 14
Continuances
Rule 15
Amended pleadings
Rule 16
Transfer of case file from magistrate to circuit court when emergency protective order granted
Rule 16a
Child Abuse and Neglect
Rule 17
Termination of emergency protective order
Rule 18
Appeal of denial of emergency order
Rule 19
Appeal of family court order
Rule 20
Disqualification of Family Court Judge
Rule 21
Domestic violence national registry and the West Virginia domestic violence database
Rule 22
Domestic violence support orders
Rule 23
Testimony of children
Rule 23a
Children and incapacitated family or household members as parties
Rule 24
Domestic violence civil contempt bond
Rule 24a
Compliance Hearings
Rule 25
Concurrent jurisdiction
Rule 25a
Child Protection Investigation
Rule 26
Appointments of guardians ad litem
Rule 27
Telephonic and video conference hearings
Rule 28
Time Computation