Bill > HB5193

This bill, by amending West Virginia Code §55-2-1, eliminates the legal concept of adverse possession, which is the ability for someone to gain ownership of another person's land by occupying it openly and continuously for a specified period, even without the owner's permission. Previously, individuals had a ten-year window to claim land or initiate legal action to recover it, but this bill removes that time limit, allowing individuals to make an entry on or bring an action to recover any land at any time, effectively abolishing the doctrine of adverse possession in West Virginia. Additionally, the bill repeals §55-2-3, which previously addressed situations where individuals under a disability, such as minority or mental incapacity, had extended timeframes to make claims on land.

Justice

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=5193&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill