US Lawyer Database

For Lawyer-Seekers

YOU DESERVE THE BEST LAWYER

Home » US Law » 2022 West Virginia Code » Chapter 38. Liens » Article 16. Fraudulent Common Law Liens

§38-16-101. Definitions; Application of Definitions

§38-16-101. Definitions; application of definitions. For the purposes of this article, the words and phrases defined in the following sections of this part I, and any variation of those words and phrases required by the context, have the meanings ascribed to them in this part I. These definitions are applicable unless a different meaning clearly […]

§38-16-102. Court of Competent Jurisdiction Defined

"Court of competent jurisdiction" means a circuit court, magistrate court or administrative agency within this state or a court or administrative agency of another state, or a court or administrative agency of the federal government having jurisdiction and due legal authority to establish a charge against or an interest in real or personal property by […]

§38-16-103. Federal Government Defined

"Federal government" means the government of the United States of America and includes the executive, legislative and judicial branches; and the term also includes quasi-public corporations and independent commissions or authorities primarily acting as instrumentalities or agencies of the United States, but does not include any contractor with the United States.

§38-16-104. Federal Official or Employee Defined

"Federal official or employee" means an officer or employee of the federal government temporarily or permanently in the service of the United States, members of the military or naval forces of the United States, members of the National Guard, and persons acting on behalf of the United States in an official capacity, whether with or […]

§38-16-105. Lien Defined

"Lien" means a charge against or an interest in property to secure payment of a debt or performance of an obligation, and includes a security interest created by agreement, a judicial lien obtained by legal or equitable process or proceedings, a common law lien, or a statutory lien.

§38-16-107. Purported Court Defined

"Purported court" means a so-called common law court or other purported court or purported judicial entity that is not expressly created or established under the Constitution or the laws of this state or of the United States.

§38-16-201. Bonafide Liens Are Not Affected by This Article

§38-16-201. Bonafide liens are not affected by this article. Regardless of whether such liens may also be considered to be common law liens, nothing in this article is intended to affect: (1) Statutory liens arising under an enactment of the Legislature;

§38-16-303. Claim of Lien Against a Federal Official or Employee or a State or Local Official or Employee; Performance of Duties; Validity; No Duty to Accept Filing; Notice of Invalid Lien

(a) Any claim of lien against a federal official or employee or a state or local official or employee that is based on the performance or nonperformance of that official's or employee's duties is invalid unless it arises from a specific order of a court of competent jurisdiction authorizing the filing of the lien or […]

§38-16-304. No Duty to Disclose Record of Common Law Lien

No person has a duty to disclose an instrument of record or file that attempts to give notice of a common law lien. This section does not relieve any person of any duty which otherwise may exist to disclose a claim of lien authorized by statute or imposed by order of a court of competent […]

§38-16-401. Notice by Clerk of Fraudulent Lien

§38-16-401. Notice by clerk of fraudulent lien. (a) If a clerk of the county commission has a reasonable basis to believe in good faith that a document or instrument purporting to evidence an invalid nonconsensual common law lien has been filed or recorded or offered for filing or recording, the clerk shall provide a written […]

§38-16-402. Action on Fraudulent Judgment Lien

(a) A person against whom a purported judgment was rendered who has reason to believe that a document previously filed or recorded or submitted for filing or for filing and recording is fraudulent may complete and file with the clerk of the circuit court a motion, verified by affidavit, that contains, at a minimum, the […]

§38-16-403. Action on Fraudulent Lien on Property

(a) A person who is the purported debtor or obligor or who owns real or personal property or an interest in real or personal property, and who has reason to believe that the document purporting to create a lien or a claim against the real or personal property or an interest in the real or […]

§38-16-404. Costs and Attorneys' Fees

If, following a hearing on the matter, the court determines that the claim of lien is invalid, the court shall issue an order awarding costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to the petitioner to be paid by the lien claimant. If the court determines that the claim of lien is valid, the court shall issue an […]