Under West Virginia law, who is authorized to sell real estate and enter into an oil and gas lease?

The correct answer indicates that municipalities have the authority to sell real estate and enter into oil and gas leases under West Virginia law. This is because municipalities, as legal entities, often manage local land and can engage in transactional activities related to real estate, including leases that allow for the extraction of resources such as oil and gas.

In the context of oil and gas development, municipalities can leverage their land or interests in real estate for economic benefits, often facilitating agreements that align with community interests and regulations. These transactions typically require adherence to local ordinances and state laws governing property use and resource extraction, ensuring that the process is structured and accountable.

Surface owners also possess certain rights related to their land, particularly in terms of leasing arrangements. However, the specific authority to represent the public interest in real estate transactions typically lies with municipalities when it comes to community-owned assets. Guardians ad litem serve a distinct purpose within the legal system, usually related to representing the interests of minors or legally incapacitated individuals in court, and are not involved in real estate transactions. The state government, while having regulatory authority over land use, does not directly engage in transactions for individual properties, which further delineates municipal authority in this realm.