West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia HB5673: Creating a statutory right to petition circuit and family courts for sibling visitation
Status: Introduced, February 17, 2026
What the bill says
To amend and reenact §51-2A-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, and to amend the code by adding a new article, designated §48-10A-101, §48-10A-102, §48-10A-201, §48-10A-202, §48-10A-203, §48-10A-204, §48-10A-301, §48-10A-401, §48-10A-402, §48-10A-403, §48-10A-501, §48-10A-502, §48-10A-601, §48-10A-602, §48-10A-701, §48-10A-702, §48-10A-801, §48-10A-802, §48-10A-901, §48-10A-902, §48-10A-1001, §48-10A-1002, §48-10A-1101, and §48-10A-1201, relating to the creation of a statutory right to petition circuit and family courts in West Virginia for sibling visitation with minor ch.
From the introduced text, February 17, 2026:
A BILL to amend and reenact §51-2A-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, and to amend the code by adding a new article, designated §48-10A-101, §48-10A-102, §48-10A-201, §48-10A-202, §48-10A-203, §48-10A-204, §48-10A-301, §48-10A-401, §48-10A-402, §48-10A-403, §48-10A-501, §48-10A-502, §48-10A-601, §48-10A-602, §48-10A-701, §48-10A-702, §48-10A-801, §48-10A-802, §48-10A-901, §48-10A-902, §48-10A-1001, §48-10A-1002, §48-10A-1101, and §48-10A-1201, relating to the creation of a statutory right to petition circuit and family courts in West Virginia for sibling visitation with minor children. Chapter 48. Domestic Relations. ARTICLE 10A. SIBLING VISITATION. §48-10A-101. Legislative findings. The Legislature finds that circumstances arise where it is appropriate for circuit courts or family courts of this state to order that siblings of minor children may exercise visitation with those minor children. The Legislature further finds that in those situations, as in all situations involving minor children, the best interests of the minor child or children are the paramount consideration. §48-10A-102. Legislative intent. It is the express intent of the Legislature that the provisions for sibling visitation that are set forth in this article are exclusive. §48-10A-201. Applicability of definitions. For the purposes of this article the words or terms defined in this article, and any variation of those words or terms required by the context, have the meanings ascribed to them in this article. These definitions are applicable unless a different meaning …