{"data":{"id":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-48-16-401","jurisdiction":"us-wv","citation":"W. Va. Code § 48-16-401","heading":"PETITION TO ESTABLISH SUPPORT ORDER.","body":"(a) If a support order entitled to recognition under this article has not been issued, a responding tribunal of this state with personal jurisdiction over the parties may issue a support order if:\n(1) The individual seeking the order resides outside this state; or\n(2) The support enforcement agency seeking the order is located outside this state.\n(b) The tribunal may issue a temporary child support order if the tribunal determines that such an order is appropriate and the individual ordered to pay is:\n(1) A presumed father of the child;\n(2) Petitioning to have his paternity adjudicated;\n(3) Identified as the father of the child through genetic testing;\n(4) An alleged father who has declined to submit to genetic testing;\n(5) Shown by clear and convincing evidence to be the father of the child;\n(6) An acknowledged father as provided by applicable state law;\n(7) The mother of the child; or\n(8) An individual who has been ordered to pay child support in a previous proceeding and the order has not been reversed or vacated.\n(c) Upon finding, after notice and opportunity to be heard, that an obligor owes a duty of support, the tribunal shall issue a support order directed to the obligor and may issue other orders pursuant to section 16-305 [§48-16-305].","path":["CHAPTER 48. DOMESTIC RELATIONS.","ARTICLE 16. UNIFORM INTERSTATE FAMILY SUPPORT ACT.","PART IV. ESTABLISHMENT OF SUPPORT ORDER."],"source_url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/48-16-401/","current_through":"as of 2026-08-03; contains at least the enactments of the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T00:30:28Z","sha256":"881bb6bea14b10c8e4113e2f34525a04eb944e683ab5edfb30b15be58582b68a","source_id":"us-wv","stale":true,"prev":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-48-16-319","next":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-48-16-402"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}