Divorce, custody, paternity, adoption, protective orders, and the other family matters that come before Northern Panhandle courts. Cline & Singh, PLLC represents families in Weirton, Wheeling, Moundsville, Wellsburg, and the surrounding communities.
Family law covers a wide range of cases, from a carefully negotiated divorce to an emergency protective order hearing set for the next morning. These are the matters we handle most often:
West Virginia splits family matters among three courts, and knowing which one has your case explains a lot about how it will move.
Family court hears divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, paternity, and the final hearing in a domestic violence protective order case. Circuit court hears abuse and neglect cases, adoptions, and name changes. Magistrate court hears personal safety order petitions and can issue an emergency protective order when the family court is closed.
In Hancock, Brooke, and Ohio counties, family cases are heard by the First Family Court Circuit, with courts in Wellsburg and Wheeling. Marshall County is part of the Second Family Court Circuit, shared with Tyler and Wetzel counties.
A divorce is filed in the county where the spouses live, and each county’s courts work a little differently. Our town pages explain where a divorce from each community is filed and heard.
Most family cases are decided as much by preparation as by argument: complete financial disclosures, a workable parenting plan, and a clear record of what has actually been happening with the children. We put that work in early, look for agreements where they make sense, and prepare for a hearing when they do not.
Family cases also overlap. A protective order can affect custody, a paternity case can turn into a support case, and a divorce can involve all three. We keep the whole picture in view so that a decision in one case does not cause a problem in another.
Not always, but even an agreed divorce involves decisions about property, debt, support, and parenting that are difficult to change later. Many people have a lawyer review or prepare the agreement before it is filed.
A domestic violence protective order covers family or household members and is decided in family court. A personal safety order covers harassment, stalking, or threats by someone who is not a family or household member, and is filed in magistrate court.
Yes. A parent can ask the court to modify a parenting plan, generally by showing a substantial change in circumstances, and the court decides based on the child’s best interests.
Both of our attorneys were raised in the Northern Panhandle and appear regularly in its courts. We offer phone and video consultations for clients who would rather not make the drive to Weirton.
This page provides general information about West Virginia law and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney about your situation.
Talk with us about where things stand and what comes next. Consultations are free. Call (304) 919-2912 or (304) 919-2119, or send us a message.