When can a child decide which parent to live with in West Virginia?
When can a child decide which parent to live with in West Virginia?
West Virginia custody laws generally consider the preferences of children 14 and older to be well-reasoned and sufficiently mature. Children younger than 14 can have their preferences heard as well, but it will be up to a judge to decide how much weight to give a younger child’s preference.
Why would a mother lose custody of her child?
If a mother, or a father, is determined to be unfit, they will lose custody of their child. More specifically, a parent may be deemed unfit if he or she has been abusive, neglectful, or failed to provide proper care for the child. …
What do they look for in child custody cases?
Evidence of parenting ability: Courts look for evidence that the parent requesting custody is genuinely able to meet the child’s physical and emotional needs, including food, shelter, clothing, medical care, education, emotional support, and parental guidance.
Can a woman stop a man seeing his child?
This means generally that neither parent has any rights to prevent the other from seeing a child, except where there are safeguarding concerns, or where the welfare of the child may be compromised. As such, unless there are concerns for a child’s welfare, contact with both parents is actively encouraged by the law.
