Current through December 29, 2025 · Last verified July 8, 2026
In one sentenceRule 37a lets a family court order parties into an 8-hour advanced child-focused parent education class, sets the $75 fee, and keeps the sessions confidential.
(a)Course format and content. — In addition to the mandatory parent education class described in Rule 37, family courts may order parties in proceedings involving minor children to attend advanced child-focused parent education classes sponsored by the Supreme Court of Appeals. The advanced child-focused parent education classes shall include 8 hours of content designated to educate parties on reducing parental conflict, focusing on their children’s best interests, and effectively negotiating parenting issues. The parties in a particular case shall attend the class, unless otherwise ordered by the court.
(b)Mandatory attendance. — Family courts may order parties to attend advanced child-focused parent education classes for reasons including, but not limited to, the following: repeated court appearances on modification and/or contempt issues related to parenting time and decision-making authority; parties’ apparent inability or unwillingness to resolve conflict effectively; or parties’ communicating inappropriate messages through the children or speaking negatively about the other party or the other party’s family in the presence of the children. Only by order of the court may parties attend the advanced child-focused parent education classes approved by the Supreme Court of Appeals.
(c)Fees. — The fee for each party to attend is $75. The fee shall be paid in full prior to attending and is payable to the circuit clerk in the county in which the case is pending. The clerk of the circuit court shall, on or before the tenth day of each month, transmit all fees collected under this rule to the state treasurer for deposit in the state treasury to the credit of the special revenue fund known as “parent education fund” established by West Virginia Code § 48-9-604. The order requiring parties to attend an advanced child-focused parent education class shall specify the fee each party shall pay prior to attending the advanced child-focused parent education class. A party who has filed a financial affidavit and received a fee waiver shall not be required to pay a fee. The family court may review any fee waiver in accord with West Virginia Code § 51-2A-8(e). The family court, in its sound discretion, may require one party to pay the fees for both parties.
(d)Confidentiality. — Advanced child-focused parent education sessions shall be considered confidential subject to Rule 25.12 of the Trial Court Rules. The only information provided to the court is whether a party completes the course.
(e)Information reporting. — All court personnel and providers of advanced child focused parent education shall provide the Supreme Court of Appeals such information as the court determines necessary for assessing these programs.
End
Amendment History
[Added by order adopted June 25, 2008; amended by order entered and effective January 22, 2009; and by order entered and effective December 29, 2025.]
Plain-English Summary
Beyond the mandatory class in Rule 37, family courts may order parties in cases involving minor children into an advanced child-focused parent education class sponsored by the Supreme Court of Appeals. It runs 8 hours and is designed to teach parties to reduce parental conflict, focus on their children's best interests, and negotiate parenting issues effectively. The parties attend unless the court orders otherwise, and attendance is possible only by court order.
The rule names the circumstances that typically prompt an order, without limiting them: repeated court appearances on modification or contempt issues about parenting time and decision-making authority; an apparent inability or unwillingness to resolve conflict effectively; or passing inappropriate messages through the children, or speaking negatively about the other party or their family in front of them.
The fee is $75 per party, payable in full before attending to the circuit clerk in the county where the case is pending. Clerks transmit what they collect to the state treasurer by the tenth of each month, for the statutory parent education fund. The order must specify each party's fee; a party who has filed a financial affidavit and received a waiver pays nothing, the court may review any waiver under the statute, and it may in its discretion require one party to pay for both.
Sessions are confidential under the Trial Court Rules, and the only information that reaches the court is whether a party completed the course. Court personnel and providers report to the Supreme Court of Appeals whatever it needs to assess the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the advanced parent education class?
Eight hours, covering reducing parental conflict, focusing on the children's best interests, and negotiating parenting issues effectively.
Can parties enrol themselves?
No. Only by order of the court may parties attend the advanced child-focused parent education classes approved by the Supreme Court of Appeals.
What might prompt the court to order it?
Repeated appearances on modification or contempt issues about parenting time and decision-making; an apparent inability or unwillingness to resolve conflict; or communicating inappropriate messages through the children or speaking negatively about the other party or their family in the children's presence.
What is the fee?
$75 per party, paid in full before attending to the circuit clerk in the county where the case is pending. A party with a fee waiver pays nothing, and the court may require one party to pay for both.
What does the court learn about the sessions?
Only whether a party completes the course. The sessions are confidential subject to Rule 25.12 of the Trial Court Rules.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official West Virginia Rules of Practice and Procedure for Family Court (W. Va. R. Prac. & P. Fam. Ct. 37a). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia (W. Va. Const. art. VIII, § 3). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 8, 2026. ·
Official source
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