West Virginia § 48-20-208 Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct

West Virginia Statutes

§ 48-20-208 — Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct

West Virginia § 48-20-208

Ch. 48DOMESTIC RELATIONS

Art. 20UNIFORM CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT

This text of West Virginia § 48-20-208 (Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering West Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

W. Va. Code § 48-20-208 (2026).

Text

(a)Except as otherwise provided in section 20-204 or by other law of this state, if a court of this state has jurisdiction under this chapter because a person seeking to invoke its jurisdiction has engaged in unjustifiable conduct, the court shall decline to exercise its jurisdiction unless:

(1)The parents and all persons acting as parents have acquiesced in the exercise of jurisdiction;

(2)A court of the state otherwise having jurisdiction under sections 20-201 through 20-203, inclusive, of this article determines that this state is a more appropriate forum under section 20-207; or

(3)No court of any other state would have jurisdiction under the criteria specified in sections 20-201 through 20-203, inclusive, of this article.

(b)If a court of this state declines to exercise its j

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(a) Except as otherwise provided in section 20-204 or by other law of this state, if a court of this state has jurisdiction under this chapter because a person seeking to invoke its jurisdiction has engaged in unjustifiable conduct, the court shall decline to exercise its jurisdiction unless:

(1) The parents and all persons acting as parents have acquiesced in the exercise of jurisdiction;

(2) A court of the state otherwise having jurisdiction under sections 20-201 through 20-203, inclusive, of this article determines that this state is a more appropriate forum under section 20-207; or

(3) No court of any other state would have jurisdiction under the criteria specified in sections 20-201 through 20-203, inclusive, of this article.

(b) If a court of this state declines to exercise its jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, it may fashion an appropriate remedy to ensure the safety of the child and prevent a repetition of the unjustifiable conduct, including staying the proceeding until a child custody proceeding is commenced in a court having jurisdiction under sections 20-201 through 20-203, inclusive, of this article.

(c) If a court dismisses a petition or stays a proceeding because it declines to exercise its jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, it shall assess against the party seeking to invoke its jurisdiction necessary and reasonable expenses including costs, communication expenses, attorney's fees, investigative fees, expenses for witnesses, travel expenses and child care during the course of the proceedings, unless the party from whom fees are sought establishes that the assessment would be clearly inappropriate. The court may not assess fees, costs or expenses against this state unless authorized by law other than this chapter.