Relating to appeals of orders or decrees of adoption

SB 794 Text

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WEST virginia legislature
2026 regular session
Enrolled
Senate Bill 794
By Senator Willis
[Passed March 13, 2026; in effect 90 days from passage (June 11, 2026)]

AN ACT to amend and reenact §51-11-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to appeals of orders or decrees of adoption; and clarifying that the Intermediate Court of Appeals does not have appellate jurisdiction over appeals of adoption orders or decrees.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 11. THE WEST VIRGINIA APPELLATE REORGANIZATION ACT.

§51-11-4. Jurisdiction; limitations.

(a) The Intermediate Court of Appeals has no original jurisdiction.
(b) Unless specifically provided otherwise in this article, appeals of the following matters shall be made to the Intermediate Court of Appeals, which has appellate jurisdiction over such matters:
(1) Final judgments or orders of a circuit court in all civil cases, including, but not limited to, those in which there is a request for legal or equitable relief, entered after June 30, 2022:
Provided
, That the Supreme Court of Appeals may, on its own accord, obtain jurisdiction over any civil case filed in the Intermediate Court of Appeals;
(2) Final judgments or orders of a family court, entered after June 30, 2022, except for final judgments or final orders issued by a family court in any domestic violence proceeding pursuant to §48-27-101
et seq.
of this code, which appeals shall first be made to a circuit court;
(3) Final judgments or orders of a circuit court concerning guardianship or conservatorship matters entered after June 30, 2022, pursuant to §44A-1-1
et seq.
of this code;
(4) Final judgments, orders, or decisions of an agency or an administrative law judge entered after June 30, 2022, heretofore appealable to the Circuit Court of Kanawha County pursuant to §29A-5-4 or any other provision of this code;
(5) Final orders or decisions of the Health Care Authority issued prior to June 30, 2022, in a certificate of need review, but transferred to the jurisdiction of the Intermediate Court of Appeals upon termination of the Office of Judges pursuant to §16-2D-16a of this code;
(6) Final orders or decisions issued by the Office of Judges after June 30, 2022, and prior to its termination, as provided in §16-2D-16 and §23-5-8a of this code; and
(7) Final orders or decisions of the Workers' Compensation Board of Review pursuant to §23-5-1
et seq.
of this code, entered after June 30, 2022.
(c) In appeals properly filed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the parties shall be afforded a full and meaningful review on the record of the lower tribunal and an opportunity to be heard.
(d) The Intermediate Court of Appeals does not have appellate jurisdiction over the following matters:
(1) Judgments or final orders issued in any criminal proceeding in this state:
Provided
, That if the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals should adopt a policy of discretionary review of criminal appeals, then the Intermediate Court of Appeals shall have appellate jurisdiction of such judgments or final orders;
(2) Judgments or final orders issued in any juvenile proceeding pursuant to §49-4-701
et seq.
of this code;
(3) Judgments or final orders issued in child abuse and neglect proceedings pursuant to §49-4-601
et seq.
of this code;
(4) Orders of commitment, issued pursuant to §27-5-1
et seq.
of this code;
(5) Any proceedings of the Lawyer Disciplinary Board;
(6) Any proceedings of the Judicial Investigation Commission;
(7) Final decisions of the Public Service Commission, issued pursuant to §24-5-1 of this code;
(8) Interlocutory appeals;
(9) Certified questions of law;
(10) Judgments or final orders issued in proceedings where the relief sought is one or more of the following extraordinary remedies: writ of prohibition, writ of mandamus, writ of quo warranto, writ of certiorari, writ of habeas corpus, special receivers, arrests in civil cases, and personal safety orders;
(11) Judgments or final orders issued by circuit court upon its review of a family court judgment or final order in any domestic violence proceeding pursuant to §48-27-101
et seq.
of this code; and
(12) Orders or decrees of adoption entered pursuant to §48-22-704 of this code.

The Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Delegates hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.

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Clerk of the Senate

...............................................................

Clerk of the House of Delegates

Originated in the Senate.

In effect 90 days from passage.

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President of the Senate

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Speaker of the House of Delegates

__________

The within is ................................................ this the...........................................

Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026.

.............................................................
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