Contested and uncontested divorces in Wheeling and Ohio County, West Virginia.
We represent spouses in Wheeling and across Ohio County in contested and uncontested divorces, including custody, child support, spousal support, and dividing property. Many Wheeling divorces involve a spouse who lives or works in Ohio or Pennsylvania, and those cases raise questions that are worth settling before anything is filed.
Divorces for Wheeling and most of Ohio County are filed with the Ohio County Circuit Clerk in the City-County Building on Chapline Street and heard in Ohio County Family Court, on the second floor of the courthouse annex at 51 16th Street. The family court is part of the First Family Court Circuit, which also serves Hancock and Brooke counties.
When a divorce involves minor children, West Virginia requires both parents to complete a parent education class and file the certificate with the circuit clerk. The class has to be done before mediation over the parenting plan, or, if there is no mediation, before the final hearing; if it is not, the court can postpone the case until it is.
The approved class is an online course called Children in Between. The fee is $25, paid to the circuit clerk in the county where the case is filed, and it is waived for parents who qualify for a fee waiver. How custody works in West Virginia.
Wheeling sits directly across the river from Ohio, and Pennsylvania is a short drive east, so it is common for one spouse to live or work across a state line. Where the marriage took place and how long each spouse has lived in West Virginia affect whether a West Virginia court can hear the case, and where the children have lived controls which state decides custody. How a West Virginia divorce works.
With the Ohio County Circuit Clerk in the City-County Building, 1500 Chapline Street. The case is heard in Ohio County Family Court at 51 16th Street.
If you have minor children, yes. Both parents must complete the approved parent education class and file the certificate before mediation or the final hearing. The fee is $25 and can be waived.
Often, yes, if you meet West Virginia’s residency requirements, but custody is generally decided by the state where the children have been living. It is worth sorting that out before filing.
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 local courts and is not legal advice. Court locations and procedures can change; check your citation or court paperwork for the controlling details, and consult a licensed attorney about your situation.
Talk with us about where your case stands and what comes next. Consultations are free. Call (304) 919-2912 or (304) 919-2119, or send us a message to get started.