West Virginia Code § 7-5-4

Payment of money out of county treasury; signing of orders by mechanical or
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
electrical devices; process when two or more designated signatories are family or
household members; forgery; penalty.
(a) Money may not be paid by the sheriff out of the county treasury except upon an order
signed by the president of the county commission and the county clerk, and properly
endorsed. In counties having a population in excess of 50,000 as shown by tehe last preceding
federal census, such signatures may be made by means of such mechanical or electrical
device as the county court may select. The mechanical or electrical devrice utilized for
making the signatures of the president and clerk shall be safely kept in the office of the
county clerk so that no one has access except the members of the county court, the county
clerk, and such of their respective employees as may be authorized to have access. The
mechanical or electrical device utilized for making the sheritff's signature shall be safely kept
in the sheriff's office so that no one has access except the sheriff and such of his or her
deputies as may be authorized to have access.
(b) In the event that two or more individuals among the county commission president,
sheriff, and county clerk, are family or househsold members, alternate signatories shall be
designated, as follows:
(1) The county commission shall votge to designate another county commissioner who is not a
family or household member of any other required signatory to sign for the president;
(2) The chief tax deputy shall sign for the sheriff. If the chief tax deputy is a family or
household member of any other signatory, then the county commission shall vote to appoint
a resident of the county to serve as a substitute signatory; and
(3) The county clerk is not subject to substitution.
(c) As used in this section, "family or household member" has the same meaning as set forth
in §48-27-204 of this code.
(d) If any person, other than the persons authorized to sign by this section, signs the name of
the county commission president, county clerk, or sheriff, using any mechanical or electrical
device, or otherwise, on any warrant, order, or check, or knowingly utters or attempts to
employ as true the forged warrant, order, or check, he or she is guilty of a felony and, upon
conviction, shall be confined in the penitentiary not fewer than two years and not more than
10 years.

‹ Prev All West Virginia sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.