West Virginia Code
Article 7. Equitable Distribution of Property
§48-7-108. Interest or Title in Property Prior to Judicial Determination

As to any third party, the doctrine of equitable distribution of marital property and the provisions of this article shall be construed as creating no interest or title in property until and unless an order is entered under this article judicially defining such interest or approving a separation agreement which defines such interest. Neither this article nor the doctrine of equitable distribution of marital property shall be construed to create community property nor any other interest or estate in property except those previously recognized in this state. A husband or wife may alienate property at any time prior to the entry of an order under the provisions of this article or prior to the recordation of a notice of lis pendens in accordance with the provisions of part 7-401, et seq., and at anytime and in any manner not otherwise prohibited by an order under this chapter, in like manner and with like effect as if this article and the doctrine of equitable distribution had not been adopted: Provided, That as to any transfer prior to the entry of an order under the provisions of this article, a transfer other than to a bona fide purchaser for value shall be voidable if the court finds such transfer to have been effected to avoid the application of the provisions of this article or to otherwise be a fraudulent conveyance. Upon the entry of any order under this article or the admission to record of any notice with respect to an action under this article, restraining the alienation of property of a party, a bona fide purchaser for value shall take such title or interest as he or she might have taken prior to the effective date of this section and no purchaser for value need see to the application of the proceeds of such purchase except to the extent he or she would have been required so to do prior to the effective date of this section: Provided, however, That as to third parties nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or otherwise defeat the interests or rights to property which any husband or wife would have had in property prior to the enactment of this section or prior to the adoption of the doctrine of equitable distribution by the Supreme Court of Appeals on May 25, 1983: Provided further, That no order entered under this article shall be construed to defeat the title of a third party transferee thereof except to the extent that the power to effect such a transfer of title or interest in such property is secured by a valid and duly perfected lien and, as to any personal property, secured by a duly perfected security interest.

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