(a) Except as provided in 48-9-402 or 48-9-403 of this code, a court shall modify a parenting plan order if it finds, on the basis of facts that were not known or have arisen since the entry of the prior order and were not anticipated in the prior order, that a substantial change has occurred in the circumstances of the child or of one or both parents and a modification is necessary to serve the best interests of the child.(b) In exceptional circumstances, a court may modify a parenting plan if it finds that the plan is not working as contemplated and in some specific way is manifestly harmful to the child, even if a substantial change of circumstances has not occurred.(c) Unless the parents have agreed otherwise, the following circumstances do not justify a significant modification of a parenting plan except where harm to the child is shown:(1) Circumstances resulting in an involuntary loss of income, by loss of employment or otherwise, affecting the parents economic status;(2) A parents remarriage or cohabitation, except under the circumstances set forth in 48-9-209(f) of this code; and(3) Choice of reasonable caretaking arrangements for the child by a legal parent, including arents remarriage or cohabitation, except under the circumstances set forth in 48-9-209(f) of this code; and(3) Choice of reasonable caretaking arrangements for the child by a legal parent, including the childs placement in day care.(d) For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, the occurrence or worsening of a limiting factor, as defined in 48-9-209(a) of this code, after a parenting plan has been ordered by the court constitutes a substantial change of circumstances and measures shall be ordered pursuant to 48-9-209 of this code to protect the child or the childs parent.
West Virginia Legal Code