Bill > HB2924

This bill seeks to eliminate the legal doctrine of adverse possession in West Virginia, which traditionally allowed someone to claim ownership of land they did not originally own by occupying it continuously and openly for a certain period of time (typically ten years). Specifically, the bill removes the existing provision that limited land recovery actions to a ten-year timeframe and replaces it with two key changes: first, it allows a person to make an entry on or bring an action to recover land at any time, and second, it explicitly abolishes the entire concept of adverse possession within the state's legal code. By doing so, the bill fundamentally changes property law in West Virginia, removing a long-standing legal mechanism that previously permitted individuals to potentially gain title to land through extended unauthorized use or occupation. This change means that property owners will have more robust protection against unintended transfer of land ownership, as simply occupying land without permission will no longer provide a pathway to legal ownership.

Justice

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=2924&year=2025&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill