If the plaintiff claim only on an estate for life in the land recovered, and pay any sum allowed to the defendant for improvements, he or his personal representative may recover, at the determination of his estate, from the remainderman or reversioner, the value of such improvements, as they then exist, not exceeding the amount so paid by him and shall have a lien therefor on the premises, in like manner as if they had been mortgaged for the payment thereof, and may keep possession of such premises until it be paid.
Structure West Virginia Code
Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale
Article 5. Allowance for Improvements
§55-5-1. Method of Asserting Claim
§55-5-2. Valuation of Improvements Made by Defendant Before Notice of Title
§55-5-4. Same -- for What Period Defendant Liable
§55-5-5. Verdict for Balance After Damages Set Off Against Improvements; Entry of Judgment
§55-5-7. Reimbursement of Life Tenant by Remainderman or Reversioner
§55-5-8. Exception as to Mortgagees and Trustees
§55-5-9. Plaintiff May Require His Estate Only to Be Valued -- by Entry on Record
§55-5-10. Same -- How Estimated
§55-5-11. Same -- Relinquishment of Estate to Defendant at Value Ascertained
§55-5-12. Same -- Same -- How Value Paid; Sale of Land for Failure to Make Payments; Deficiency
§55-5-13. Same -- Same -- Disposition of Value When Party Under Disability
§55-5-14. Same -- Same -- Eviction of Defendant; Recovery of Amount Paid