§48-5-604. Use and occupancy of marital home.
(a) The court may award the exclusive use and occupancy of the marital home to a party. An order granting use and occupancy of the marital home shall include the use of any necessary household goods, furniture and furnishings. The order shall establish a definite period for the use and occupancy, ending at a specific time set forth in the order, subject to modification upon the petition of either party.
(b) Generally, an award of the exclusive use and occupancy of the marital home is appropriate when necessary to accommodate rearing minor children of the parties. Otherwise, the court may award exclusive use and occupancy only in extraordinary cases supported by specific findings set forth in the order that grants relief.
(c) An order awarding the exclusive use and occupancy of the marital home may also require payments to third parties for home loan installments, land contract payments, rent, property taxes and insurance coverage. When requiring third-party payments, the court shall reduce them to a fixed monetary amount set forth in the order. The court shall specify whether third-party payments or portions of payments are spousal support, child support, a partial distribution of marital property or an allocation of marital debt. Unless the court identifies third-party payments as child support payments or as installment payments for the distribution of marital property, then such payments are spousal support. If the court does not identify the payments and the parties have waived any right to receive spousal support, the court may identify the payments upon motion by any party.
(d) This section is not intended to abrogate a contract between either party and a third party or affect the rights and liabilities of either party or a third party under the terms of a contract.
Structure West Virginia Code
Chapter 48. Domestic Relations
§48-5-102. Subject Matter Jurisdiction
§48-5-103. Jurisdiction of Parties; Service of Process
§48-5-104. Retention of Jurisdiction When Divorce Is Denied
§48-5-105. Residency Requirements for Maintaining an Action for Divorce
§48-5-106. Venue of Actions for Divorce
§48-5-107. Parties to a Divorce Action
§48-5-201. Grounds for Divorce; Irreconcilable Differences
§48-5-202. Grounds for Divorce; Voluntary Separation
§48-5-203. Grounds for Divorce; Cruel or Inhuman Treatment
§48-5-204. Grounds for Divorce; Adultery
§48-5-205. Grounds for Divorce; Conviction of Crime
§48-5-206. Grounds for Divorce; Permanent and Incurable Insanity
§48-5-207. Grounds for Divorce; Habitual Drunkenness or Drug Addiction
§48-5-208. Grounds for Divorce; Desertion
§48-5-209. Grounds for Divorce; Abuse or Neglect of a Child
§48-5-301. When a Divorce Not to Be Granted
§48-5-401. Verification of Pleadings
§48-5-402. Petition for Divorce
§48-5-405. Amendments to Pleadings
§48-5-501. Relief That May Be Included in Temporary Order of Divorce
§48-5-502. Temporary Spousal Support
§48-5-503. Temporary Parenting Order; Child Support
§48-5-504. Attorney's Fees and Court Costs
§48-5-505. Costs of Health Care and Hospitalization
§48-5-506. Use and Occupancy of the Marital Home
§48-5-507. Use and Possession of Motor Vehicles
§48-5-508. Preservation of the Properties of the Parties
§48-5-509. Enjoining Abuse, Emergency Protective Order
§48-5-510. Consideration of Financial Factors in Ordering Temporary Relief
§48-5-511. Disclosure of Assets
§48-5-512. Ex Parte Orders Granting Temporary Relief
§48-5-513. Granting of Ex Parte Relief
§48-5-514. Temporary Order Not Subject to Appeal or Review
§48-5-601. Relief That May Be Included in Final Order of Divorce
§48-5-602. Court May Require Payment of Spousal Support
§48-5-603. Relief Regarding Minor Child or Children
§48-5-604. Use and Occupancy of Marital Home
§48-5-605. Use and Possession of Motor Vehicles
§48-5-606. Relief Regarding Costs of Health Care and Hospitalization
§48-5-607. Court May Order Transfer of Accounts for Recurring Expenses
§48-5-608. Injunctive Relief or Protective Orders
§48-5-609. Court May Restore to Either Party His or Her Property
§48-5-610. Court May Order Just and Equitable Distribution of Property
§48-5-611. Suit Money, Counsel Fees and Costs
§48-5-612. Court May Order a Party to Deliver Separate Property
§48-5-613. Former Name of Party; Restoration
§48-5-701. Revision of Order Concerning Spousal Support
§48-5-702. Revision of Order Enjoining Abuse
§48-5-703. Revision of Order Allocating Custodial Responsibility and Decision-Making Responsibility
§48-5-704. Revision of Order Establishing Child Support
§48-5-706. Revision of Order Concerning Distribution of Marital Property
§48-5-707. Reduction or Termination of Spousal Support Because of De Facto Marriage