Email WV Code

Email: Chapter 48, Article 20, Section 202

§48-20-202. Exclusive, continuing jurisdiction.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in section 20-204, a court of this state which has made a child custody determination consistent with section 20-201 or 20-203 has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over the determination until:

(1) A court of this state determines that neither the child, the child and one parent, nor the child and a person acting as a parent have a significant connection with this state and that substantial evidence is no longer available in this state concerning the child's care, protection, training and personal relationships; or

(2) A court of this state or a court of another state determines that the child, the child's parents and any person acting as a parent do not presently reside in this state.

(b) A court of this state which has made a child custody determination and does not have exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under this section may modify that determination only if it has jurisdiction to make an initial determination under section 20-201.