Reinstituting the maintenance of actions for alienation of affection and criminal conversation

HB 4979 would restore the right to file civil lawsuits in West Virginia for "alienation of affection" (when a third party causes a spouse to lose affection) and "criminal conversation" (adultery). It requires such lawsuits to be filed within three years of the last relevant act and prohibits claims based on events occurring after a permanent separation of the couple. The bill reverses a 1969 law that had banned these claims, making them available again for new cases. It applies to both individuals and organizations, but not to acts happening after a permanent separation.