Tools for Charleston, West Virginia Guardians ad Litem, Therapists and Mediators

A co-parenting app and case tools you can recommend to the Charleston, West Virginia families you work with, whether you serve as a guardian ad litem, a therapist, or a mediator. Messaging between co-parents is free for both parents, and every message is time-stamped and tamper-evident.

Families in Charleston, West Virginia who end up in the Kanawha County Family Court rarely arrive at a mediation, a therapy session, or a home visit with their records in order. FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help platform built for those parents. Below is what it does for them, what it means for you as a guardian ad litem, therapist, or mediator, and what to know about family court in Charleston, West Virginia.

Area covered: Kanawha County.

Court for custody cases: Kanawha County Family Court (Eleventh Family Court Circuit).

Appointed for the child: Guardian ad litem.

Custody mediation: Usually required in custody disputes (Family court mediation).

Parenting class: Required statewide (Parent Education).

State family law: West Virginia Code Chapter 48 - Domestic Relations.

Co-parent messaging (Free): One time-stamped, tamper-evident thread, free for both parents, with a Tone Meter that offers calmer rewrites.

Invite a professional into the conversation (Free): A parent can add a guardian ad litem or mediator to the co-parent conversation with a single-use link.

Parenting plan, built and shared (Free to build): Parents draft a parenting plan and can share it with you to read and comment on.

Verify a chat export (Free): Check that an exported message record (the JSON file) has not been changed. No account needed.

Court-Grade Journal (Paid plan): A dated, no-delete journal; a parent can send you a packet of chosen entries.

Expense Tracker (Paid plan): Shared child costs with receipts; a parent can give you a view-only look.

Parents can create an account and message their co-parent for free, with no credit card. Building a parenting plan is free; sharing, downloading, and printing it, and the tools marked as a paid plan, are part of a monthly plan a parent can start and stop.

For guardians ad litem in Charleston, West Virginia

In West Virginia, the court can appoint a guardian ad litem in a custody case. What the role involves is in the FAQ below.

On FamilyCourtHelp.com you see what a parent chooses to share. A parent can invite you into the co-parent conversation with a single-use link, which you accept with your own free account; from there you can read the thread, post in it, and review the shared calendar's requests and approvals. A parent can also share the parenting plan with you to read and comment on.

For therapists and counselors in Charleston, West Virginia

Court-involved and reunification therapists, co-parenting counselors, and custody evaluators in Charleston, West Virginia do not get an account view here, and that is deliberate: each parent keeps their own record and chooses what to bring you. The free messenger keeps the week's facts in one time-stamped thread, and its Tone Meter flags a heated message and suggests a calmer one before it is sent.

For mediators and parenting coordinators in Charleston, West Virginia

In West Virginia, custody mediation is usually required when parents disagree about custody. The details are in the FAQ below.

Sessions in Charleston, West Virginia start further along when the draft is already on the table. Parents can share their parenting plan with you to read and comment on, and invite you into their conversation with a single-use link. Agreements then live in one time-stamped thread, and every schedule change is a request on the shared calendar that the other parent approves or declines.

Family court in Charleston, West Virginia: what to know

Custody cases in Charleston, West Virginia are heard in the Kanawha County Family Court.

If you searched for a guardian ad litem, a family therapist, or a custody mediator in Charleston, West Virginia, the court that has your case, the order in it, or your lawyer is the place to find who is appointed or approved. This site does not appoint professionals or refer you to one. What you can do here is come prepared: keep every message with your co-parent in one time-stamped thread, write down what happened with dates while it is fresh, and work on a parenting plan before the meeting.

Free help for parents in Charleston, West Virginia: the court help desks and legal aid offices below were checked link by link for the site's free pro se help directory.

Kanawha: Family Court Forms. The state courts' official family court forms, including step-by-step divorce packets for people filing without a lawyer.

Kanawha legal aid: Legal Aid of West Virginia, (866) 255-4370.

FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help platform, not a law firm and not a court, and nothing on this page is legal, clinical, or mediation advice. Court rules and local programs change, so confirm anything that matters for a case with the court, the order that appointed you, or the program itself.

Frequently asked questions

Where are custody cases heard in Charleston, West Virginia?

Kanawha County makes up West Virginia's Eleventh Family Court Circuit. West Virginia family courts hear divorce, child custody, paternity and family support cases.

Where can parents in Charleston, West Virginia get free help with a family court case?

Free court help for parents without a lawyer: Family Court Forms. Free legal aid: Legal Aid of West Virginia. Phone numbers and links are in the parents section above, checked link by link for the site's free pro se help directory.

How can parents prepare for custody mediation in Charleston, West Virginia?

Bring the family calendar, a draft parenting plan, a list of the issues still open, and a list of shared costs with receipts. Parents can put all of that together on FamilyCourtHelp.com before the first session.

What does a guardian ad litem do in a Charleston, West Virginia custody case?

A West Virginia family court can appoint a guardian ad litem, who must be a lawyer, to investigate and help the judge decide what is best for the child. These appointments are not routine and are usually made when there are serious concerns, such as domestic violence or abuse and neglect, that affect a child's safety. You may also see "GAL". This is general information, not legal advice; the order in the case controls.

Is custody mediation required in West Virginia?

When West Virginia parents cannot agree on a parenting plan, the law says the court shall require mediation unless it is inappropriate for that case. Parents are screened first for issues such as domestic violence, child abuse or substance abuse, which can lead the court not to order mediation or not to require face-to-face meetings.

Do parents in West Virginia have to take a parenting class?

In West Virginia cases involving minor children, parents must complete a parent education class and file a certificate of completion with the circuit clerk. The class covers making a parenting plan, mediation and other ways to reach agreement, and the effects of divorce and domestic abuse on children.