2026 Regular Session
Link to Bill History on Legacy Website (Click Here)Summary: To eliminate adverse possession from the state code of West Virginia
PDF: hb5193 intr.pdf
DOCX: HB5193 INTR.docx
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2026 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 5193
By Delegates Canterbury, Cooper, and Campbell
[Introduced February 04, 2026; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary]
A BILL to amend and reenact §55-2-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended and to repeal §55-2-3 of the code, relating to abolishing the right to obtain title to land by adverse possession.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 2. LIMITATION OF ACTIONS AND SUITS.
§55-2-1. Entry upon or recovery of lands.
No person shall make an entry on, or bring an action to recover, any land, but within ten years next after the time at which the right to make such entry or to bring such action shall have first accrued to himself or to some person through whom he claims
(a) A person may make an entry on, or bring an action to recover, any land at any time.
(b) The doctrine and law of adverse possession is abolished in West Virginia.
§55-2-3. Entry upon or recovery of lands by persons under disability.
[Repealed.]
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to abolish the right to obtain title to land by adverse possession.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.