West Virginia Court & Family Education Guide
Information for anyone navigating a court order, custody case, or probation requirement in West Virginia that involves anger management, parenting, co-parenting, or substance-abuse education.
What does Clearway offer?
People are sometimes ordered or referred to an educational program as part of a family-law, custody, probation, or other West Virginia court-related matter. The type of program required can depend on the circumstances of the case and the exact wording of the court order.
Clearway Institute offers four self-paced online courses: anger management, parenting, co-parenting, and substance-abuse education. Not every course is appropriate for every court order, and completing an online course does not automatically mean a particular West Virginia court, probation department, or agency will accept it — always read your order carefully and confirm the required program with the court, probation officer, attorney, or other referring agency when you're not sure.
Which type of class do you need?
Start with whichever matches your order or situation — each course page has the full curriculum before you enroll.
What if a West Virginia court ordered it?
The sources reviewed identified no statewide statute requiring a specific anger-management class after a domestic battery conviction. West Virginia's protective-order law does let a court order intervention, though: W. Va. Code § 48-27-503 lists, among its permissive provisions, requiring the respondent to take part in an intervention program for perpetrators, a term defined in § 48-27-208. The section does not set a program length.
On the civil side, a family court protective order under § 48-27-505 generally lasts 90 or 180 days, can be renewed for 90 days, and can run one year if the court finds a listed aggravating factor. The same article lets courts set temporary custody and supervised visitation. Orders differ, so confirm exactly what your own order or sentence requires before enrolling in any course.
What's the difference between classes?
Parenting vs. co-parenting. Parenting covers general child-development, discipline, and communication skills, and comes up in a wide range of family cases. Co-parenting is built specifically for separated or divorcing parents — coordinating two households, handling custody transitions, and keeping kids out of the middle — and is the more common requirement in a custody or divorce order.
Anger management vs. a certified intervention program. Many states, West Virginia included, treat general educational anger-management coursework as legally distinct from a state-certified batterer intervention, family-violence intervention, or abuser-treatment program ordered specifically in a domestic-violence case — see “What if a West Virginia court ordered it?” above for how that distinction works here. If your order names a specific certified program by name, an educational anger-management course usually isn't an automatic substitute — check with your court.
Where can I verify requirements?
The most reliable answer always comes from whoever issued your order — the court clerk, your probation or parole officer, your attorney, or the agency that referred you. Below are free, West Virginia-specific places to start if you need legal help, counseling, or crisis support along the way.
Legal reference material
For anyone who wants to read the underlying statutes for themselves, here is the reference material this guide is based on — West Virginia civil and family-law sections first, then criminal law.
Civil & family law
Protective orders: standard and durationW. Va. Code §§ 48-27-501, 48-27-505
At the final hearing the court must enter a protective order if the petitioner proves the domestic violence allegations by a preponderance of the evidence. An order lasts 90 or 180 days, may be extended 90 days on written request, and may last one year if the court finds a listed aggravating factor.
Permissive provisions in protective ordersW. Va. Code § 48-27-503
A protective order may include temporary custody of minor children, temporary visitation (with third-party supervision if needed to protect the petitioner or children), temporary support, no-contact and stay-away terms, reimbursement of expenses, and participation in an intervention program for perpetrators.
Criminal law
Domestic battery and domestic assaultW. Va. Code § 61-2-28(a), (b)
Domestic battery, meaning unlawful, intentional insulting or provoking contact with, or physical harm to, a family or household member, is a misdemeanor with up to 12 months in jail and a fine up to $2,000. Domestic assault is a misdemeanor with up to six months in jail and a fine up to $500.
Repeat domestic offensesW. Va. Code § 61-2-28(c), (d)
A second offense carries higher jail minimums and fines. A third or later offense within 20 years of a prior qualifying conviction is a felony punishable by two to ten years in a state correctional facility and a fine up to $5,000.
Stalking and harassmentW. Va. Code § 61-2-9a
Stalking and harassment are misdemeanors, each with up to six months in jail and a fine up to $1,000. A second or later conviction, or violating a protective order, is a felony punishable by one to five years in a state correctional facility.
Violating a protective orderW. Va. Code § 48-27-903
Knowingly and willfully violating a qualifying protective order is a misdemeanor. A first offense carries 1 day to 1 year in jail, including at least 24 hours of actual confinement, and a fine of $250 to $2,000. Repeat violations carry longer minimums.