(a) The court shall modify a parenting plan in accordance with a parenting agreement, unless it finds that the agreement is not knowing and voluntary or that it would be harmful to the child.
(b) The court may modify any provisions of the parenting plan without the showing of the changed circumstances required by 48-9-401(a) of this code if the modification is in the childs best interests, and the modification:
(1) Reflects the de facto arrangements under which the child has been receiving care from the petitioner, without objection, in substantial deviation from the parenting plan, for the preceding six months before the petition for modification is filed, provided the arrangement is not the result of a parents acquiescence resulting from the other parents domestic abuse;
(2) Constitutes a minor modification in the plan;
(3) Is necessary to accommodate the reasonable and firm preferences of a child who, has attained the age of 14; or
(4) Is necessary to accommodate the reasonable and firm preferences of a child who is under the age of 14 and, in the discretion of the court, is sufficiently matured that he or she can intelligently express a voluntary preference;
(c) Evidence of repeated filings of fraudulent reports of domestic violence or child abuse is admissible in a domestic relations action between the involved parties when the allocation of custodial responsibilities is in issue, and the fraudulent accusations may be a factor considered by the court in making the allocation of custodial responsibilities.
Structure West Virginia Code
Chapter 48. Domestic Relations
Article 9. Allocation of Custodial Responsibility and Decision-Making Responsibility of Children
§48-9-101. Scope of Article; Legislative Findings and Declarations
§48-9-102. Objectives; Best Interests of the Child
§48-9-102a. Presumption in Favor of Equal (50-50) Custodial Allocation
§48-9-103. Parties to an Action Under This Article
§48-9-104. Parent Education Classes
§48-9-105. Venue for Custodial Allocation Actions Independent of Divorce
§48-9-201. Parenting Agreements
§48-9-202. Court-Ordered Services
§48-9-203. Proposed Temporary Parenting Plan; Temporary Order; Amendment
§48-9-204. Criteria for Temporary Parenting Plan
§48-9-205. Permanent Parenting Plan
§48-9-206. Allocation of Custodial Responsibility at Final Hearing
§48-9-207. Allocation of Significant Decision-Making Responsibility at Temporary or Final Hearing
§48-9-208. Parental Dispute Resolution
§48-9-209. Parenting Plan; Considerations
§48-9-301. Court-Ordered Investigation
§48-9-301a. Child Abuse Allegations
§48-9-302. Appointment of Guardian
§48-9-303. Interview of the Child by the Court
§48-9-401. Modification Upon Showing of Changed Circumstances or Harm
§48-9-402. Modification Without Showing of Changed Circumstances
§48-9-403. Relocation of a Parent
§48-9-501. Enforcement of Parenting Plans
§48-9-601. Access to a Child S Records
§48-9-602. Designation of Custody for the Purpose of Other State and Federal Statutes