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§39-1-1. Power of attorney may be recorded.
A power of attorney may be admitted to record in any county.

§39-1-2. Conditions under which county clerk shall admit deeds, contracts, etc., to record.
The clerk of the county court of any county in which any deed, contract, power of attorney, or other writing is to be, or may be, recorded, shall admit the same to record in his office, as to any person whose name is signed thereto, when it shall have been acknowledged by him, or proved by two witnesses as to him, before such clerk of the county court.

But notwithstanding such acknowledgment or proof, such clerk shall not admit to record any contract, deed, deed of trust, mortgage or other instrument that secures the payment of any debt, unless such contract, deed, deed of trust, mortgage, or other instrument sets forth therein who, at the time of the execution and delivery thereof, is the beneficial owner of the debt secured thereby, and where he resides: Provided, however, That in the case of a mortgage or a deed of trust securing an issue of negotiable notes or bonds exceeding five in number and payable to bearer, it shall not be necessary that the mortgage or deed of trust show who are the beneficial owners of such notes or bonds, but in such case such mortgage or deed of trust shall show the name and address of the person or corporation with or by whom the notes or bonds have been, or are to be, first negotiated.

§39-1-2a. Other requirements for admission to record of certain instruments.
(a) In addition to the other requirements prescribed by law, no instrument by which the title to real estate or personal property, or any interest therein or lien thereon, is conveyed, created, encumbered, assigned or otherwise disposed of, shall be recorded or admitted to record, or filed by the county clerk unless the name of the person who, and governmental agency, if any, which, prepared such instrument appears at the conclusion of such instrument and such name is either printed, typewritten, stamped, or signed in a legible manner: Provided, That the recording or filing of any instrument in violation of the provisions of this section shall not invalidate or cloud the title passing by or under such instrument or affect the validity of such instrument in any respect whatever, and such recorded or filed instrument shall constitute notice with like effect as if such instrument fully complied with the provisions of this section. An instrument will be in compliance with this section if it contains a statement in the following form: "This instrument was prepared by (name)".

(b) This section does not apply to any instrument executed prior to the effective date hereof; to any decree, order, judgment or writ of any court; to any will or death certificate; to any financing, continuation or termination statement permitted to be filed under chapter forty-six of this code; or to any instrument executed or acknowledged outside of this state.

(c) A survey document intended to be used in the transfer of real property, prepared by a licensed surveyor, and filed with a county clerk or accepted by a public official of this state shall have the licensed surveyor's signature and seal or stamp affixed thereto.

(d) If a survey document, prepared by a licensed surveyor, has been altered from its original form, it shall not be filed with a county clerk or accepted by a public official of this state, until the original licensed surveyor has initialed the changes.

(e) A document, plan, map, drawing, exhibit, sketch or pictorial representation prepared by a person exempted under the provisions of thirteen-a, chapter thirty of this code, is not required to have the signature and seal affixed thereto.

(f) A document, plan, map, drawing, exhibit, sketch or pictorial representation altered by a person not licensed under the provisions of article thirteen-a, chapter thirty of this code, shall have the alteration initialed by a surveyor licensed under the provisions of article thirteen-a, chapter thirty of this code.

§39-1-2b. Recordation of certified copies of certain instruments.

Except as provided in this section, the clerk of the county commission of any county shall admit to record in the office of such clerk a copy of any contract, deed of trust, mortgage, lease, memorandum of lease, release, assignment, power of attorney or any other instrument or writing which has been certified by the clerk of the county commission of any other county of this state as being a true and correct copy and transcript from the records of said county. Any such recordations prior to the effective date of this section shall constitute notice with like effect as if such original instrument had been recorded therein. This section does not apply to deeds, wills or to any instrument filed in accordance with chapter forty-six of this code.

§39-1-3. Who may take acknowledgment.
Upon the request of any person interested therein, such clerk of the county court shall also admit any such writing to record, as to any person whose name is signed thereto, upon a certificate of his acknowledgment before the president of a county court, a justice of the peace, notary public, recorder, prothonotary or clerk of any court, within the United States, the Philippine Islands, Island of Puerto Rico, Territory of Alaska, Territory of Hawaii, or any other territory, possession or dependency of the United States, or a commissioner appointed within the same by the governor of this state, written or annexed to the same; or upon a certificate so written or annexed under the official seal of any ambassador, minister plenipotentiary, minister resident, charge d'affaires, consul general, consul, deputy consul, vice consul, consular agent, vice consular agent, commercial agent, or vice commercial agent, appointed by the government of the United States to any foreign country, or of the proper officer of any court of record of such country, or of the mayor or other chief magistrate of any city, town or corporation therein, that such writing was acknowledged by such person, or proved as to him by two witnesses, before any person having such appointment, or before such court, mayor, or chief magistrate.

§39-1-4. Form of certificate of acknowledgment.

The certificate of acknowledgment mentioned in the preceding section may be in form or effect as follows:

State (territory or district) of _________________, county of _____________________, to wit:

I, ________________________, a commissioner, appointed by the governor of the State of West Virginia, for the said State (or territory or district) of _________; or I, ___________________, a justice of the peace of the county aforesaid; or I, ____________, recorder of said county; or I, _________________, a notary public of said county; or I, _______________________, a prothonotary (or clerk) of the ___________________ court of said county; (or other officer or person authorized to take acknowledgments by section three of this article, as the case may be), do certify that _______________________, whose name (or names) is (or are) signed to the writing above (or hereto annexed) bearing date on the _________ day of _____________, 19 ______, has (or have) this day acknowledged the same before me, in my said ____________________.

Given under my hand this _________ day of __________________, 19 ______.

§39-1-4a. Acknowledgment of persons in the military service of the United States of America.

Upon the request of any person interested therein, the clerk of the county court of any county in which any deed, contract, power of attorney, or other writing is to be, or may be, recorded, shall admit the same to record as to any person whose name is signed thereto who is in the military service of the United States (including the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, Women's Appointed Volunteers for Emergency Service, Army Nurse Corps, "Spars," Women's Reserve, or similar women's auxiliary unit officially connected with the military service of the United States) or who is the spouse of any one in the military service of the United States (including the aforesaid components and auxiliary units officially connected therewith), upon the certificate of acknowledgment of such person before any commissioned officer of any branch of the military service of the United States, or auxiliary unit officially connected with such military service. Such acknowledgment may be taken at any place either within or outside of the United States of America, or any territory, possession or dependency thereof. The certificate of such acknowledgment need not state the place where same is taken and shall require no seal to be affixed thereto. The officer certifying such acknowledgment must state his rank, branch of military service, and identification number; and such certificate of acknowledgment may be in form and effect as follows:

IN THE MILITARY SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES:

I, .................., a commissioned officer in the military service of the United States, do certify that .............., who is a member of the military service of the United States (or of .............., an auxiliary to the military forces of the United States), and/or ............., husband (or wife) of ............, a member of the military service of the United States (or of .............., an auxiliary to the military forces of the United States), whose name(s) is (are) signed to the foregoing writing bearing date on the ......... day of .............., 19....., has (have) this day acknowledged the same before me; and I further certify that I am a .................. in the ................... of the United States and (state rank) my identification number is .............................

Given under my hand this ....... day of ............, 19....

.....................................

(Signature of Officer)

.....................................

(Official Title)

§39-1-5. Acknowledgment by husband and wife.
When a husband and wife have signed a writing purporting to sell or convey real estate, the wife may acknowledge the same together with, or separately from her husband. Either the husband or the wife may sign and acknowledge such writing before the other has signed or acknowledged it. If both acknowledge such writing at the same time, the certificate of such acknowledgments may be in form or effect as follows:

State (territory or district) of .......... county of .........., to wit:

I, .........., a commissioner appointed by the governor of the State of West Virginia for the said State of .........., (or territory or district of ..........); or I, .........., a justice of the peace of the said county of ..........; or I, .........., a notary public of the said county of ..........; or I, .........., prothonotary (or clerk) of the ......... court or county of ........; (or other officer or person authorized to take acknowledgments by section three of this article, as the case may be),* do certify .......... and .........., his wife whose names are signed to the writing above (or hereto annexed) bearing date the ..... day of .........., 19....., have this day acknowledged the same before me in my said ...........

Given under my hand this ......... day of ........., 19.......

If the husband or wife acknowledge a deed or other writing separately from the other, the certificate of acknowledgment after the star in the foregoing form shall be in form or effect as follows: do certify that .........., the wife of .........., (or the husband of .........., as the case may be), whose name is signed to the writing above (or hereto annexed) bearing date the .......... day of .........., 19....., has this day acknowledged the same before me in my said ..........

Given under my hand this .......... day of .........., 19.....

§39-1-6. Certificates as to wives living separate and apart to be prima facie evidence in certain cases.
The certificate of acknowledgment heretofore taken of a married woman to a deed or other writing conveying, or agreeing to sell and convey, real estate which was her sole and separate property, purporting to show that at the time of its execution and acknowledgment such married woman was living separate and apart from her husband, shall, in all cases where the validity of any such deed or other writing comes in question, be prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated.

§39-1-7. False certificate of acknowledgment.
If any person shall in any case wilfully make any false certificate of acknowledgment, contrary to the true facts in the case, or shall certify the acknowledgment of any person whom he does not personally know to be the person whose name is signed to the writing acknowledged, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than five hundred dollars, and imprisoned not more than sixty days, at the discretion of the court.

§39-1-8. Form of certificate of acknowledgment by attorney in fact.
When any writing has been executed by an attorney in fact, and an acknowledgment of the execution thereof is required or authorized for any purpose, the certificate of acknowledgment may be in form or effect as provided in section four of this article as far as the words "do certify," and thence as follows: do certify that .........., whose name is signed to the writing above (or hereto annexed) bearing date the .......... day of .........., 19....., as attorney in fact for .........., has this day acknowledged the same before me in my said ..........

Given under my hand this .......... day of .........., 19.....

§39-1-9. Acknowledgment by corporations.
The certificate of acknowledgment of a corporation may be in form or effect as prescribed in section four of this article as far as the words "do certify" and thence as follows: do certify that .........., who signed the writing above (or hereto annexed), bearing date the .......... day of .........., 19....., for .......... (name of corporation), has this day in my said county, before me, acknowledged the said writing to be the act and deed of said corporation.

Given under my hand this .......... day of .........., 19......

§39-1-10. When certificate to be under official seal.
If any acknowledgment be before a notary without this state, he shall certify the same under his official seal.

§39-1-10a. Verification by written statement under certain conditions.

Any certificate, return, form, statement, or other document which is required by the state of West Virginia, or any office, department or agency thereof, and which does not require an acknowledgment under this article or other laws of recordation of the state of West Virginia, may be verified by written declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury and such declaration shall be in lieu of any oath otherwise required.

Any person making any false statement in any certificate, return, statement, or other document verified by such written declaration shall be subject to the same penalties as would be applicable had the same been verified by oath duly taken and acknowledged.

§39-1-11. Recordation of writings and plats and papers annexed; index; interlineations; filing under Uniform Commercial Code.
Every writing (except financing, continuation and termination statements and other statements and writings permitted to be filed under chapter forty-six of the code) authorized by law to be recorded, when admitted to record, shall, with all certificates of acknowledgment, and all plats, schedules and other papers thereto annexed or thereon indorsed, be recorded by, or under the direction of, the clerk of the county court, in a well-bound book, to be carefully preserved; and there shall be an index to such book as well in the name of the grantee as of the grantor. After being so recorded, such writing may be delivered to the party entitled to claim under the same. If, except in those cases where such writing is recorded by photography or similar process producing exact facsimile copies, there appear upon such writing, or any paper or certificate annexed thereto, any interlineation, erasure or alteration, of which no memorandum is contained in the writing, paper or certificate, the clerk shall append to the record thereof a memorandum describing as accurately as may be such interlineation, erasure or alteration; and such memorandum shall be copied into every such writing, paper or certificate. Every such memorandum shall be prima facie evidence of what is therein stated: Provided, That the clerk of the county court may refuse to accept for recordation any instrument printed on both sides of the paper or printed in whole or part in smaller than ten point type with at least two points separating each line. Any failure of such instrument to be so accepted by the clerk of the county court shall not affect the validity thereof as to the parties thereto: Provided, however, That any such instrument shall be accepted by the clerk for recording at one and one-half times the legal fee therefor.

Financing, continuation and termination statements and other statements and writings permitted to be filed under chapter forty-six of the code shall be filed in a proper file by the clerk of the county court or the secretary of state, as the case may be, as specified in said chapter forty-six. Such statements and writings filed in the office of the clerk of the county court and such statements and writings filed in the office of the secretary of state shall be indexed according to the name of the debtor and shall disclose the assigned file number and the address of the debtor given in the respective statement or writing. The date and hour of filing and the file number shall be noted on the statement or writing involved. A financing, continuation or termination statement or other statement or writing permitted to be filed under chapter forty-six of the code may, after the same ceases to be effective or lapses, as specified in said chapter forty- six, be removed from the files in the office of the clerk of the county court or the secretary of state, as the case may be, and destroyed.

§39-1-11a. Photographic recordation.

It shall be as legal and effective in all respects to photographically record writings, plats and maps and the papers thereto annexed as if such writings, plats and maps and papers thereto annexed had been recorded by handwriting, or by the use of a typewriter, or by any other means useful for the purpose.

§39-1-12. Special recordation of writing not acknowledged or proved for regular recordation.
If any writing which it is lawful for a clerk of the county court to admit to record, on proper acknowledgment or proof, has been or shall be lodged in his office, and has remained or shall remain therein six months without being acknowledged or proved so that it can be duly admitted to record, the clerk of the county court shall, for the preservation thereof, when required by any person interested, copy the same into a book separate from those in which writings properly acknowledged or proved are recorded, and keep an index to such book, as in the case of writings duly admitted to record. In case of the loss or destruction of any such writing, such copy shall be prima facie evidence of the contents thereof.

§39-1-13. Duty to record plat or plan of lots.
When any tract or parcel of land within the limits of any county of the state has been or shall be hereafter subdivided into lots by any partition of land or by order of the owner or owners, or his or their agent, or otherwise and any lot or lots have been sold or conveyed, or are offered for sale, from the tract or parcel of land so divided, according to a plat or plan of subdivision, without such plat or plan of subdivision having been filed for record, it shall be the duty of the owner or owners of such tract of land, or his or their agent, authorizing such plat or plan of subdivision of such tract of land to be laid out, to file such plat or plan for record in the office of the clerk of the county court and the office of the county assessor of the county wherein such land so divided is situate.

§39-1-13a. Consolidation order book.

The county court of any county may order the clerk of such county court to provide a book or series of books, to be entitled "Consolidation Order Book," in which such clerk shall record all real estate consolidation orders entered by the county court pursuant to section seventeen, article four, chapter eleven of this code, and likewise to provide an index therefor in which shall be entered pertinent index data consistent with the provisions of section two, article two of this chapter. The county court shall provide funds for the payment for such record book, index and other necessary supplies incident to the keeping thereof.

§39-1-14. Notification to file plat for record.
Upon notice from the clerk of the county court wherein such land so divided is situate, or upon notice from any person owning a lot or lots (or an undivided share or any interest therein) in any such tract or parcel of land so divided, to the owner or owners or his or their agent, that the plat or plan of subdivision has not been properly filed, the owner or owners, or his or their agent, shall cause the same to be properly filed for record within sixty days from such notification.

§39-1-15. Failure to file plat after notification.
If such owner, or owners, or his or their agent, upon having been so notified, shall fail to cause such plat or plan to be filed in such offices as aforesaid, such owner, or owners, or his or their agent, shall forfeit and pay the sum of two hundred dollars for each period of sixty days that shall elapse after such notification without such plat having been filed for record, such sum or sums to be recovered as debts of like amount are by law recoverable at the suit of any party, or parties, giving such notice. The party or parties bringing such suit shall be entitled to one half of the amount so recovered and the other half shall go to the county fund of such county.

§39-1-16. Approval by city council or commissioners prerequisite to laying out subdivision.
In case a proposed subdivision of any lot or parcel of land is situate within the corporate limits of any municipality, or abutting thereon, it shall be the duty of the owner, or owners, or his or their agent, to submit a plat or plan of such subdivision to the council or commissioners of such municipality, showing the street and alley connections that such subdivision makes with such municipality, and furnishing full information for the purpose of determining whether the proposed subdivision will impede or prevent the further development and extension of such municipality where such subdivision is situate. Before any such subdivision is finally laid out, it shall have the approval of the council or commissioners of the municipality wherein the subdivision is situate, or upon which it abuts, and such approval and the date thereof shall be indicated on the plat or plan of such subdivision before the same is finally filed in the office of the clerk of the county court and the county assessor's office.

§39-1-17. Duty to provide cornerstone monuments; acknowledgment or proof not necessary to recordation of plat.
It shall be the duty of the engineer in charge, or the owner, or owners, or the agent of the owner or owners, of any subdivision of land in this state to have permanent cornerstone monuments, of stone or concrete, not less than twenty-four inches in length by six inches square at the top, or not less than six inches in diameter, with proper centers, placed at the most important corners (where permanent corners do not already exist) so that there shall be not less than two permanent corners to each lot or block of any subdivision thereafter made, and the position of the same shall be indicated on the plan or map when finally filed for record. No certificate of acknowledgment, or other proof thereof, shall be necessary or prerequisite to the recordation of such plat, map or plan.

ARTICLE 1A. UNIFORM RECOGNITION OF ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ACT.

§39-1A-1. "Notarial acts" defined; who may perform notarial acts outside the state for use in state.
For the purposes of this article, "notarial acts" means acts which the laws and regulations of this state authorize notaries public of this state to perform, including the administering of oaths and affirmations, taking proof of execution and acknowledgments of instruments, and attesting documents. Notarial acts may be performed outside this state for use in this state with the same effect as if performed by a notary public of this state by the following persons authorized pursuant to the laws and regulations of other governments in addition to any other person authorized by the laws and regulations of this state:

(1) A notary public authorized to perform notarial acts in the place in which the act is performed;

(2) A judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of any court of record in the place in which the notarial act is performed;

(3) An officer of the foreign service of the United States, a consular agent, or any other person authorized by regulation of the United States department of state to perform notarial acts in the place in which the act is performed;

(4) A commissioned officer in active service with the armed forces of the United States and any other person authorized by regulation of the armed forces to perform notarial acts if the notarial act is performed for one of the following or his dependents: A merchant seaman of the United States, a member of the armed forces of the United States or any other person serving with or accompanying the armed forces of the United States; or

(5) Any other person authorized to perform notarial acts in the place in which the act is performed.

§39-1A-2. Proof of authority of person performing notarial act.
(a) If the notarial act is performed by any of the persons described in subdivisions one to four, inclusive, section one of this article, other than a person authorized to perform notarial acts by the laws or regulations of a foreign country, the signature, rank or title and serial number, if any, of the person are sufficient proof of the authority of a holder of that rank or title to perform the act. Further proof of his authority is not required.

(b) If the notarial act is performed by a person authorized by the laws or regulations of a foreign country to perform the act, there is sufficient proof of the authority of that person to act if:

(1) Either a foreign service officer of the United States resident in the country in which the act is performed or a diplomatic or consular officer of the foreign country resident in the United States certifies that a person holding that office is authorized to perform the act; and

(2) The official seal of the person performing the notarial act is affixed to the document; or

(3) The title and indication of authority to perform notarial acts of the person appears either in a digest of foreign law or in a list customarily used as a source of such information.

(c) If the notarial act is performed by a person other than one described in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, there is sufficient proof of the authority of that person to act if the clerk of a court of record in the place in which the notarial act is performed certifies to the official character of that person and to his authority to perform the notarial act.

(d) The signature and title of the person performing the act are prima facie evidence that he is a person with the designated title and that the signature is genuine.

§39-1A-3. What person taking acknowledgment shall certify.
The person taking an acknowledgment shall certify that:

(1) The person acknowledging appeared before him and acknowledged he executed the instrument; and

(2) The person acknowledging was known to the person taking the acknowledgment or that the person taking the acknowledgment had satisfactory evidence that the person acknowledging was the person described in and who executed the instrument.

§39-1A-4. When form of certificate of acknowledgment accepted.
The form of a certificate of acknowledgment used by a person whose authority is recognized under section one of this article shall be accepted in this state if:

(1) The certificate is in a form prescribed by the laws or regulations of this state;

(2) The certificate is in a form prescribed by the laws or regulations applicable in the place in which the acknowledgment is taken; or

(3) The certificate contains the words "acknowledged before me," or their substantial equivalent.

§39-1A-5. Meaning of "acknowledged before me."
The words "acknowledged before me" mean:

(1) That the person acknowledging appeared before the person taking the acknowledgment;

(2) That he acknowledged he executed the instrument;

(3) That, in the case of:

(a) A natural person, he executed the instrument for the purposes therein stated;

(b) A corporation, the officer or agent acknowledged he held the position or title set forth in the instrument and certificate, he signed the instrument on behalf of the corporation by proper authority, and the instrument was the act of the corporation for the purpose therein stated;

(c) A partnership, the partner or agent acknowledged he signed the instrument on behalf of the partnership by proper authority and he executed the instrument as the act of the partnership for the purposes therein stated;

(d) A person acknowledging as principal by an attorney in fact, he executed the instrument by proper authority as the act of the principal for the purposes therein stated;

(e) A person acknowledging as a public officer, trustee, administrator, guardian or other representative, he signed the instrument by proper authority and he executed the instrument in the capacity and for the purposes therein stated; and

(4) That the person taking the acknowledgment either knew or had satisfactory evidence that the person acknowledging was the person named in the instrument or certificate.

§39-1A-6. Statutory short forms of acknowledgment.
The forms of acknowledgment set forth in this section may be used and are sufficient for their respective purposes under any law of this state. The forms shall be known as "Statutory Short Forms of Acknowledgment" and may be referred to by that name. The authorization of the forms in this section does not preclude the use of other forms.

(1) For an individual acting in his own right:

State of ...................................................

County of ..................................................

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this

.................... by ....................................

(date)(name of person acknowledged)

............................................................

(Signature of Person Taking Acknowledgment)
............................................................

(Title or Rank)
............................................................

(Serial Number, if any)
(2) For a corporation:

State of ...................................................

County of ..................................................

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this

................ by ........................................

(date) (name of officer or agent, title of officer or agent)

of ........................................................,

(name of corporation acknowledging)
a ........................................ corporation, on

(state or place of incorporation)
behalf of the corporation.

............................................................

(Signature of Person Taking Acknowledgment)
............................................................

(Title or Rank)
............................................................

(Serial Number, if any)
(3) For a partnership:

State of ...................................................

County of ..................................................

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this

.............. by .........................................,

(date) (name of acknowledging partner or agent)

partner (or agent) on behalf of ...........................,

name of partnership)

a partnership

............................................................

(Signature of Person Taking Acknowledgment)
............................................................

(Title or Rank)
............................................................

(Serial Number, if any)
(4) For an individual acting as principal by an attorney in

fact:

State of ..................................................

County of .................................................

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this

.............. by .........................................

(date) (name of attorney in fact)

as attorney in fact on behalf of ..........................

(name of principal)

...........................................................

(Signature of Person Taking Acknowledgment)
...........................................................

(Title or Rank)
...........................................................

(Serial Number, if any)
(5) By any public officer, trustee or personalrepresentative:

State of ..................................................

County of .................................................

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this

.............. by .........................................

(date) (name and title of position)

...........................................................

(Signature of Person Taking Acknowledgment)
...........................................................

(Title or Rank)
...........................................................

(Serial Number, if any)

§39-1A-7. Application of article; article cumulative.
A notarial act performed prior to the effective date of this article is not affected by this article. This article provides an additional method of proving notarial acts. Nothing in this article diminishes or invalidates the recognition accorded to notarial acts by article one of this chapter or by other laws or regulations of this state.

§39-1A-8. Uniform interpretation.
This article shall be so interpreted as to make uniform the laws of those states which enact it.

§39-1A-9. Short title.
This article may be cited as the "Uniform Recognition of Acknowledgments Act."

ARTICLE 2. GENERAL INDEX AND PRESERVATION OF RECORDS.

§39-2-1. Preparation of general index.
The county court of any county may order the clerk of such court to provide a general index for the deed books, trust deed books, judgment lien dockets, marriage records, release deed books, or other record books, or any of them, in such clerk's office; and may order the clerk of the circuit court, or the clerk of any other court of record, of such county to provide a general index for the law and chancery order books, or other record books, or any of them, in his office; or may let to the lowest bidder a contract to provide any such general index or indexes.

§39-2-2. Contents of general indexes.
In the appropriate general index in the office of the clerk of the county court, to the extent that the same has been or shall be provided, shall be indexed the names of all grantors and grantees of deeds, trust deeds, release deeds, contracts, leases, or other writings; the names of the parties to marriage records; and the names of all persons for or against whom judgments or decrees are rendered. Where a deed has been executed by a trustee, a special commissioner or other officer, it shall be indexed in the name of the former owner of the property conveyed, as well as in the name of the person executing such deed. In the general index in the office of the clerk of the circuit court, or other court of record, to the extent that such index has been or shall be provided, shall be indexed the names of all plaintiffs and defendants, versus and adversus, for or against whom judgments or decrees have been rendered, at law or in chancery. In addition to the foregoing requirements, any clerk may include, or direct to be included, in any general index, such data as he shall deem proper. It shall be the duty of every clerk for whose office a general index has been provided, to make all proper entries in each general index in his office within a reasonable time after making the recordation to which the index entry pertains.

§39-2-3. Records of county courts and other courts -- Binding or transcribing.
The county court of any county may order any of the books and records in its clerk's office and either the county court or the circuit court, or any other court of record, may order any of its own books or records, to be bound or transcribed, and shall make a reasonable allowance therefor, which shall be paid out of the county treasury.

§39-2-4. Records of county courts and other courts -- Binding or transcribing -- Prerequisites; effect.
No such allowance shall be made for any transcript until commissioners appointed for the purpose by the court ordering the transcript to be made shall have examined it and written at the foot thereof a certificate of its correctness. Thenceforth the same faith and credit shall be given to it that the book or record transcribed would have been entitled to.

§39-2-5. Records of county courts and other courts -- Binding or transcribing -- Removal from county.
Any court authorized by section three of this article to have any books or records rebound may have the same taken out of the county for such purpose.

§39-2-6. Records of county commissions, correction recordation.

Every clerk of a county commission shall establish a system which will permanently record any corrections made to any index under his or her care, custody and control. Such recordation of correction shall include the date such correction was made.

ARTICLE 3. RECONSTRUCTION OF LOST RECORDS AND PAPERS.

§39-3-1. Admission to record of certified copy when original writing lost, mislaid or destroyed.
If any writing be admitted to record in any county of this state or of any other state, and it be proper for such writing to be admitted to record in a county of this state, and the same before having been admitted to record in such county be lost, mislaid or destroyed, on affidavit of such fact, the clerk of the county court of such county wherein such writing is to be recorded may admit to record a copy of such writing from the records of any county of any state wherein it is recorded properly certified by the clerk of such county court or other officer corresponding thereto; and the record of the copy so admitted shall have the same effect as if the original had been admitted to record at the time when the copy was admitted. The clerk of the county court of any county shall also admit to record such copy of a record or paper as is mentioned in section nine, article one of chapter fifty-seven of this code.

§39-3-2. Lost records or papers recorded or filed anew.
Where any book containing judgments, decrees, orders or proceedings of a court, or proceedings at rules, or any book containing the record of wills, deeds or other papers, or where any paper filed in a clerk's office, is lost, the clerk in whose office such book or paper was, upon the production to him of any original paper which was recorded in such book, or any attested copy of the record thereof, or of an attested copy of anything else in such book, or of any paper so filed, shall, on application, record or file the same anew. The record shall show whether it is made from an original or a copy, and how the paper from which it is made was authenticated or attested. Such record shall have the same effect that the record or paper for which it is substituted would have had.

§39-3-3. Recordation of certified copies at instance of county court when record lost or destroyed.
Where any records have been or shall be lost or destroyed, by fire or otherwise, and the contents thereof shall have been recorded in the clerk's office of any court of any county in this state, or in the auditor's office, or in any other proper office in this state, the county court of the county wherein such records are so lost or destroyed may cause duly certified copies of the same to be procured from the auditor's office, such clerk's office or other proper office of any county; and it shall be the duty of the auditor or the clerk of any court of this state, or other custodian of records, to permit such copies to be made, and, when correctly copied and certified to be true copies of such record, the same shall be recorded in the proper clerk's office of the county wherein such records are lost or destroyed, in well-bound books provided for that purpose, whereupon the record thereof shall have the same force and effect as evidence for all purposes as the original records have, or would have had, and copies may be taken and certified by the clerk in whose office such copied records may be, which copies, when so made and certified by such clerk, shall be received as prima facie evidence for all purposes, and with like effect as copies from original records. And the county court of any county desiring to procure copies of any such records in other counties or offices shall make provision for the payment of such fees therefor as may be allowed by law or agreed upon.

§39-3-4. Loss of court records; reentries.
Where any book containing judgments, decrees, orders or proceedings of a court, or proceedings at rules, is lost, and there can be again entered correctly, by means of any writing, any matters which were in such book, the court may cause its clerk to have such matters reentered, and such entries shall have the same effect as the original entries.

§39-3-5. Loss of original papers in any cause or appellate court record; effect of papers supplied.
If, in any cause, the original papers therein, or any of them, or the record for or in an appellate court, or any paper filed or connected with such record, be lost, the court wherein the case is, or in which, but for such loss, it would or ought to be, may docket the same, and, on affidavit of such loss, the cause may be proceeded in, heard and determined, upon an authenticated copy of what is lost, or proof of the contents thereof; or if the cause be in an appellate court, upon a new record made up from the records and papers of the court below, and certified by the proper officer; or, in case the record and papers, or any part thereof, be lost or destroyed, the court below may, upon application of either party, upon reasonable notice to the opposite party, supply such record or part thereof, from the best evidence before it, either documentary or parol, which may be used in the court of appeals for the same purposes that the original might be. The court may, however, at the instance of either party, or in its discretion, require new pleadings to be made up in whole or in part; and the plaintiff, instead of proceeding as hereinbefore provided for, may commence and prosecute a new suit for the same matter; and such new suit may, if the former suit was in due time, be brought within one year after such loss, notwithstanding the expiration of the time within which suit must otherwise have been brought. If a cause has been decided and the original papers therein have been lost, the court by which the cause was decided, on affidavit of such loss, by some person interested therein and who was a party in such suit, may redocket such cause, and upon motion of such affiant, and after reasonable notice to all parties interested in such cause, shall supply such lost papers or parts thereof by authenticated copies of the same or proof of the contents thereof, and the papers thus supplied shall have the same effect as the papers for which they are substituted would have had.

§39-3-6. When books or papers deemed lost.
Where any book or paper is obliterated, defaced or injured so as to be in whole or in part illegible, or is destroyed, or carried away and concealed, or is in the possession or control of armed rebels or a public enemy, it shall be deemed lost for the purposes of this article.

§39-3-7. Procedure to prove contents of lost papers or records -- Generally.
Any person desirous of proving the contents of any paper filed in a clerk's office or anything which was of record in any book therein may, if such paper or book be lost within the meaning of this article, present to the circuit court of the county wherein such paper or book was filed or kept, a petition specifying with reasonable certainty the nature of the paper or record, the contents of which he desires to prove, and what persons may be affected by such proof. Reasonable notice of the time and place of proceeding on such petition shall be given to the parties interested. Such notice may be served as prescribed in sections one and two, article two, chapter fifty-six of this code. If any person who may be affected by the proof be an infant or insane person, a guardian ad litem shall be appointed to attend to the case on his or her behalf. Whereupon such court shall make an order referring such petition to one of the commissioners of the court, who shall take proof of the contents of such record or paper, and make report of same, with the evidence taken by him, to the court. Such report shall be filed in the office of the clerk of such court at least ten days before it shall be acted upon by the court, when the court may confirm or recommit the same or make any order in relation thereto which may be necessary and proper. If such report be confirmed by the court, it shall be recorded in the book where the original paper was or should have been recorded; or if it was a paper on file in the office, shall be filed away where such paper was or should have been filed; and such report, when finally confirmed and recorded or filed, shall in all cases be prima facie evidence of what is stated therein, and, after ten years from the confirmation of such report, shall be conclusive evidence of what is stated therein.

§39-3-8. Procedure to prove contents of lost papers or records -- Right to rehearing.
Such court may, however, without notice or the appointment of a guardian ad litem, proceed on such petition in accordance with the preceding section and with like effect: Provided, That any person whose interest may be affected by the proceedings under this section, or who in any case shall have been proceeded against by publication, or the personal representative of any such, shall have the same rights, as to a rehearing, that may be allowed by law to nonresident defendants in actions at law or suits in equity.

§39-3-9. Taking testimony as to lost records -- Action by county clerk.
Whenever the book or books in which are required to be recorded deeds, wills or other papers relating to the title or boundaries of lands, have been, or may hereafter be, burned, lost or destroyed, it shall be lawful for the clerk of the county court of the county in which such burning, loss or other destruction took place to take such testimony in relation to such title papers as is hereinafter provided.

§39-3-10. Taking testimony as to lost records -- Record.
He shall provide a well-bound book at the expense of the county in which to record such testimony as he may take for the purpose aforesaid. Such testimony shall be taken at his office, between the hours of nine o'clock a.m., and five o'clock p.m., and the taking thereof shall be commenced not later than one year and concluded not later than five years after such burning, loss or destruction.

§39-3-11. Taking testimony as to lost records -- Publication of notice.
Such clerk shall give notice, as hereinafter provided, of the time and place of the commencement of taking such testimony. A copy of which notice, together with the affidavit of publication, shall be recorded in the book aforesaid. Such notice shall be published as a Class II legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty- nine of this code, and the publication area for such publication shall be the county. The costs of publishing such notice shall be paid by the county.

§39-3-12. Taking testimony as to lost records -- Subjects of inquiry.
On the day fixed by such notice, such clerk shall take and record in such book the testimony of any credible person, who may appear before him, touching the existence or execution of any deed, will, or other title paper which was recorded in any book burned, lost or destroyed, as aforesaid. The witness shall describe the paper as nearly as may be; and if a deed be the subject of inquiry, the names of the grantor and grantee, the date thereof, and the number of acres called for shall be stated as nearly as the witness can recollect. The witness shall further state as accurately as he is able the locality of the land conveyed; the name of the tract, if it had any; whether it is improved or unimproved, and if improved, who made the improvements; who lived upon the same, and how long; what the calls were with regard to corners, boundaries, or adjacent lands; and anything else which the clerk may deem material to describe the title to the land, or to locate the same. If a will or other title paper than a deed be the subject of inquiry, the witness shall describe the same with the same particularity as in the case of a deed.

§39-3-13. Taking testimony as to lost records -- Powers of clerk; death, etc., of clerk.
For the purpose of taking such testimony, such clerk shall have authority to summon witnesses and enforce their attendance when desired by any person interested, in like manner as witnesses are compelled to appear before commissioners in chancery; to compel the production before him of any document, paper or book that he may deem pertinent for the purpose of any particular inquiry; and to administer oaths to such witnesses as may be brought before him. Any person who shall wilfully swear falsely before such clerk to any material fact shall be guilty of perjury, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as in other cases of perjury. When the testimony in any case shall have been partly taken by a clerk, and he shall die or his place be otherwise vacated before such testimony is completed, the successor of such clerk may complete the taking of the same with like effect as if it had been completed by the clerk who began to take the same.

§39-3-14. Taking testimony as to lost records -- Fees payable to clerk and witnesses.
The person at whose instance such testimony is taken shall pay to such clerk for his services in such behalf the same fees as are allowed to commissioners in chancery, and to witnesses the same compensation as is allowed to witnesses in other cases. All such fees due the clerk shall be collected by him and paid into the county treasury, and may be collected in the same manner and by the same remedies as costs in a common-law action.

§39-3-15. Taking testimony as to lost records -- Adjournments; completion and preservation of testimony.
Such clerk may adjourn the taking of such testimony from day to day or from time to time, not exceeding thirty days at any one adjournment, until he shall have completed and closed his duties under the provisions of this article, but not continuing the taking thereof beyond the period prescribed in section ten of this article; after which he shall preserve the book or books containing his proceedings among the records of his office. Such clerk shall give certified copies of such depositions, whenever requested by any person to do so, and he shall receive the same compensation therefor as for other certified copies.

§39-3-16. Taking testimony as to lost records -- Admissibility of depositions or copies.
The depositions taken as aforesaid shall be admissible in all suits or controversies in relation to the title or boundaries of lands in such county, whenever such depositions are relevant and no higher or better evidence can be had; and copies of such depositions, when duly certified by the clerk of the county court of such county, shall be admissible in any court the same as the original.

ARTICLE 4. UNIFORM DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY.

§39-4-1.

     Repealed.

Acts, 2012 Reg. Sess., Ch. 199.
§39-4-2.

     Repealed.

Acts, 2012 Reg. Sess., Ch. 199.
§39-4-3.

     Repealed.

Acts, 2012 Reg. Sess., Ch. 199.
§39-4-4.

     Repealed.

Acts, 2012 Reg. Sess., Ch. 199.
§39-4-5.

     Repealed.

Acts, 2012 Reg. Sess., Ch. 199.
§39-4-6.

     Repealed.

Acts, 2012 Reg. Sess., Ch. 199.
§39-4-7.

     Repealed.

Acts, 2012 Reg. Sess., Ch. 199.
ARTICLE 5. ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES AUTHORIZATION ACT.

§§39-5-1 to 39-5-8.
Repealed.

Acts, 2001 Reg. Sess., Ch. 120.

Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session