Gas Line Rights

My question involves real estate located in the State of: WV

The land adjacent to our property was purchased a few yrs. ago, our gas line runs through the top part of said property. The owner of the property next to ours, says we have to move our gas line and has a lawyer who has sent us a letter stating that if we dont move it, he will sever our gas line. The line was there when we purchased our property 7 yrs. ago and had been there at least 20-30 yrs. before that, we have been told that since the gas line has been there longer than 10 yrs., that the new property owner cant make us move the gas line..is this true or do we have to move it since it is on his property?

Sounds like a prescriptive easement to me.

Since the letter writing has started, you will need to reply. A non-reply might be taken as an agreement that the neighbor has the right to sever the line.

You will need a local attorney who understands WV property law to write a reply and head the problem off.

For a good discussion by a WV title attorney of easements:

http://www.vsb.org/sections/rp/articles/gregory.html

Good luck!