West Virginia Code
Article 1. Creation of Estates Generally
§36-1-14. Rule in Shelley's Case Abolished

Wherever any person, by conveyance inter vivos or by will, takes an estate of freehold in land, or takes such an estate in personal property as would be an estate of freehold, if it were an estate in land, and in the same conveyance or will an estate is afterward limited by way of remainder, either mediately or immediately to his heirs, or the heirs of his body, or his issue, the words "heirs,""heirs of the body," or "issue" or other words of like import used in the conveyance or will, in the limitation therein by way of remainder, shall not be construed as words of limitation carrying to such person the inheritance as to the land, or the absolute estate as to the personal property, but they shall be construed as words of purchase, creating a remainder in the heirs, heirs of the body, or issue; it being the intent and purpose of this section to completely abolish the rule of law known as the rule in Shelley's Case.

Structure West Virginia Code