Wood County Family Court

After an amendment to the West Virginia Constitution was approved by voters in 2000, a family court system was created.  Wood County, Pleasants County, Wirt County and Ritchie County compose the Third Family Court Circuit and these counties share two Family Court Judges: 

The Honorable Annette L. Fantasia

The Honorable C. Darren Tallman

Family Court Judges are also elected.  They serve four-year terms. 

In Wood County, Family Court is now located in the Donald F. Black Courthouse Annex (the former Towne Square Building) at 313 and 315 Market Street in Parkersburg, West Virginia. 

Family Courts have power or jurisdiction to hear the following matters:

·        Petitions for Divorce, Annulment and Separate Maintenance

·        Actions to obtain or modify child support

·        Actions to establish paternity

·        Actions for grandparent visitation

·        Actions concerning visitation with minor children; the establishment of a parenting plan; custodial responsibility for children

·        Actions to enforce interstate support orders

·        Certain other matters set forth in W.Va. Code §51-2A-2.

Family Courts also record the proceedings which occur.  The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals website contains a number of forms that pro se (people who represent themselves, without an attorney) can use in Family Court.  Appeals to decisions and rulings made in Family Court can be made to the Circuit Courts and/or the Supreme Court of Appeals.

Family Court parking is available at the parking lot next to the Blennerhassett Hotel.  If you take your parking ticket to court with you and have it stamped, the first hour is free.  If you can catch a parking meter, you can also park there, but beware:  they patrol constantly and you will likely get a parking ticket if your meter expires. 

Records:  The records of the Family Court are also maintained by the Wood County Circuit Clerk, Carole Jones, and her staff for Wood County cases.  Her office is located on the first floor of the Holmes Shaver Judicial Annex.  Any papers you file concerning family court should be filed there. 

Family Court cases from other counties are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in that county.  Hearings in those other counties are held in each county’s courthouse.