(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of the code, if an obligation to pay interest arises under this chapter, the rate of interest is five percent per annum and proportionate thereto for a greater or lesser sum, or for a longer or shorter time. Interest awarded shall only be simple interest and nothing in this section may be construed to permit awarding of compound interest. Interest accrues only upon the outstanding principal of such obligation.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no court may award or approve prejudgment interest in a domestic relations action against a party unless the court finds, in writing, that the party engaged in conduct that would violate subsection (b), Rule 11 of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure. If prejudgment interest is awarded, the court shall calculate prejudgment interest from the date the offending representation was presented to the court pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
(c) Upon written agreement by both parties, an obligor may petition the court to enter an order conditionally suspending the collection of all or part of the interest that has accrued on past-due child support prior to the date of the agreement: Provided, That said agreement shall also establish a reasonable payment plan which is calculated to fully discharge all arrearages within sixty months. Upon successful completion of the payment plan, the court shall enter an order which permanently relieves the obligor of the obligation to pay the accrued interest. If the obligor fails to comply with the terms of the written agreement, then the court shall enter an order which reinstates the accrued interest.
(d) Amendments to this section enacted by the Legislature during the 2006 regular session shall become effective January 1, 2007.
Structure West Virginia Code
Chapter 48. Domestic Relations
Article 1. General Provisions; Definitions
§48-1-101. Short Title; Intent of Recodification
§48-1-102. Legislative Intent; Continuation of Existing Statutory Provisions
§48-1-103. Operative Date of Enactment; Effect on Existing Law
§48-1-104. West Virginia Code Replacement
§48-1-201. Applicability of Definitions
§48-1-202. Adjusted Gross Income Defined
§48-1-203. Antenuptial or Prenuptial Agreement Defined
§48-1-204. Arrearages or Past Due Support Defined
§48-1-205. Attributed Income Defined
§48-1-206. Automatic Data Processing and Retrieval System Defined
§48-1-207. Basic Child Support Obligation Defined
§48-1-208. Bureau for Child Support Enforcement Defined
§48-1-209. Bureau for Child Support Enforcement Attorney Defined
§48-1-210. Caretaker and Caretaking Functions Defined
§48-1-211. Chief Judge Defined
§48-1-213. Combined Adjusted Gross Income Defined
§48-1-214. Commissioner Defined
§48-1-215. Contingent Fee Agreement Defined
§48-1-217. Court of Competent Jurisdiction Defined
§48-1-218. Custodial Parent Defined
§48-1-219. Custodial Responsibility Defined
§48-1-220. Decision-Making Responsibility Defined
§48-1-222. Domestic Relations Action Defined
§48-1-225. Extraordinary Medical Expenses Defined
§48-1-226. Family Court Judge Defined
§48-1-227. Final Divorce or Final Annulment Order Defined
§48-1-228. Gross Income Defined
§48-1-229. Guardian of the Property of a Child Defined
§48-1-232. Legal Parent Defined
§48-1-233. Marital Property Defined
§48-1-233.1. Mediation Defined
§48-1-235.2. Parenting Functions Defined
§48-1-235.3. Parenting Plan Defined
§48-1-235.4. Permanent Parenting Plan Defined
§48-1-235.5. Rehabilitative Spousal Support Defined
§48-1-237. Separate Property Defined
§48-1-239. Shared Parenting Defined
§48-1-239a. Shared Legal Custody Defined
§48-1-239b. Sole Legal Custody Defined
§48-1-240. Source of Income Defined
§48-1-241. Split Physical Custody Defined
§48-1-241a. Shared Physical Custody Defined
§48-1-241b. Sole Physical Custody Defined
§48-1-242. Spousal Support Defined
§48-1-243. Spousal Support in Gross Defined
§48-1-245. Support Order Defined
§48-1-246. Unreimbursed Health Care Expenses Defined
§48-1-247. Work-Related Child Care Costs Defined
§48-1-301. Communications Between Clergy and Party
§48-1-302. Calculation of Interest
§48-1-303. Confidentiality of Domestic Relations Court Files
§48-1-304. Proceedings in Contempt
§48-1-305. Suit Money, Counsel Fees and Costs
§48-1-306. Proceeding for Release of Support Lien
§48-1-307. Collection of Child or Spousal Support by Collection Agencies