diff --git a/pmd-apex/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/apex/ApexHandler.java b/pmd-apex/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/apex/ApexHandler.java
index 561ec95e63..00bfdff2d9 100644
--- a/pmd-apex/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/apex/ApexHandler.java
+++ b/pmd-apex/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/apex/ApexHandler.java
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.AbstractLanguageVersionHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.Parser;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ParserOptions;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.VisitorStarter;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.XPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.apex.ast.ASTMethod;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.apex.ast.ASTUserClassOrInterface;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.apex.ast.ApexNode;
@@ -22,7 +21,6 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.apex.metrics.api.ApexClassMetricKey;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.apex.metrics.api.ApexOperationMetricKey;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.apex.multifile.ApexMultifileVisitorFacade;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.apex.rule.ApexRuleViolationFactory;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.xpath.DefaultASTXPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.metrics.LanguageMetricsProvider;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.metrics.internal.AbstractLanguageMetricsProvider;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.RuleViolationFactory;
@@ -38,12 +36,6 @@ public class ApexHandler extends AbstractLanguageVersionHandler {
         return rootNode -> new ApexMultifileVisitorFacade().initializeWith((ApexNode<?>) rootNode);
     }
 
-
-    @Override
-    public XPathHandler getXPathHandler() {
-        return new DefaultASTXPathHandler();
-    }
-
     @Override
     public RuleViolationFactory getRuleViolationFactory() {
         return ApexRuleViolationFactory.INSTANCE;
diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/AbstractLanguageVersionHandler.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/AbstractLanguageVersionHandler.java
index 9fb7fb820f..f28567827b 100644
--- a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/AbstractLanguageVersionHandler.java
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/AbstractLanguageVersionHandler.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.util.designerbindings.DesignerBindings;
  */
 public abstract class AbstractLanguageVersionHandler implements LanguageVersionHandler {
 
+
     @Override
     public DataFlowHandler getDataFlowHandler() {
         return DataFlowHandler.DUMMY;
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractLanguageVersionHandler implements LanguageVersionH
 
     @Override
     public XPathHandler getXPathHandler() {
-        return XPathHandler.DUMMY;
+        return XPathHandler.DEFAULT;
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/XPathHandler.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/XPathHandler.java
index e2f92e8e42..108a473eb5 100644
--- a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/XPathHandler.java
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/XPathHandler.java
@@ -7,43 +7,53 @@ package net.sourceforge.pmd.lang;
 import org.jaxen.Navigator;
 
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.Rule;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.annotation.InternalApi;
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.xpath.DefaultASTXPathHandler;
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.XPathRule;
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.xpath.XPathVersion;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.xpath.Initializer;
 
 import net.sf.saxon.sxpath.IndependentContext;
 
 /**
- * Interface for performing Language specific XPath handling, such as
- * initialization and navigation.
+ * Handles the XPath-specific behaviour of a language.
  */
-@InternalApi
-@Deprecated
+// TODO move to rule.xpath package
 public interface XPathHandler {
 
-    XPathHandler DUMMY = new XPathHandler() {
-        @Override
-        public void initialize() {
-            // empty handler - does nothing
-        }
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use {@link #DEFAULT}.
+     */
+    @Deprecated
+    XPathHandler DUMMY = new DefaultASTXPathHandler();
 
-        @Override
-        public void initialize(IndependentContext context) {
-            // empty handler - does nothing
-        }
+    /**
+     * Default instance. Declares no additional XPath functions.
+     */
+    XPathHandler DEFAULT = new DefaultASTXPathHandler();
 
-        @Override
-        public Navigator getNavigator() {
-            return null;
-        }
-    };
 
-    Rule newXPathRule()
+    /**
+     * Creates a new XPath rule for the given version and expression.
+     * Note: this isn't used by the ruleset factory for the moment,
+     * XPath rules are created like normal rules. Programmatic usages
+     * of {@link XPathRule} should be replaced with calls to this method.
+     * The ruleset schema will get a new syntax for XPath rules in 7.0.0.
+     *
+     * @param version         Version of the XPath language
+     * @param xpathExpression XPath expression
+     *
+     * @return A new rule
+     *
+     * @throws NullPointerException If any of the arguments is null
+     */
+    Rule newXPathRule(XPathVersion version, String xpathExpression);
+
 
     /**
      * Initialize. This is intended to be called by {@link Initializer} to
      * perform Language specific initialization.
      *
-     * @deprecated Jaxen support will be removed in 7.0.0
+     * @deprecated Support for Jaxen will be removed come 7.0.0
      */
     @Deprecated
     void initialize();
diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ast/xpath/DefaultASTXPathHandler.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ast/xpath/DefaultASTXPathHandler.java
index 974d426e80..9510e04f84 100644
--- a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ast/xpath/DefaultASTXPathHandler.java
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ast/xpath/DefaultASTXPathHandler.java
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@
 
 package net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.xpath;
 
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.Rule;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.annotation.InternalApi;
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.XPathRule;
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.xpath.XPathVersion;
 
 import net.sf.saxon.sxpath.IndependentContext;
 
@@ -12,6 +15,12 @@ import net.sf.saxon.sxpath.IndependentContext;
 @Deprecated
 @InternalApi
 public class DefaultASTXPathHandler extends AbstractASTXPathHandler {
+
+    @Override
+    public Rule newXPathRule(XPathVersion version, String xpathExpression) {
+        return new XPathRule(version, xpathExpression);
+    }
+
     @Override
     public void initialize() {
         // override if needed
diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/XPathRule.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/XPathRule.java
index 773d64a5c0..f616d9ab66 100644
--- a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/XPathRule.java
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/XPathRule.java
@@ -12,25 +12,29 @@ import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Objects;
 
 import org.apache.commons.lang3.StringUtils;
 
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.RuleContext;
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.XPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.Node;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.xpath.JaxenXPathRuleQuery;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.xpath.SaxonXPathRuleQuery;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.xpath.XPathRuleQuery;
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.xpath.XPathVersion;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.properties.EnumeratedProperty;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.properties.StringProperty;
 
 /**
  * Rule that tries to match an XPath expression against a DOM view of an AST.
- *
- * <p>This rule needs a "xpath" property value in order to function.</p>
  */
 public class XPathRule extends AbstractRule {
 
-    // TODO 7.0.0 use PropertyDescriptor<String>
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use {@link XPathHandler#newXPathRule(XPathVersion, String)}
+     */
+    @Deprecated
     public static final StringProperty XPATH_DESCRIPTOR = StringProperty.named("xpath")
             .desc("XPath expression")
             .defaultValue("")
@@ -47,7 +51,11 @@ public class XPathRule extends AbstractRule {
         XPATH_VERSIONS = Collections.unmodifiableMap(tmp);
     }
 
-    // published, can't be converted
+
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use {@link XPathHandler#newXPathRule(XPathVersion, String)}
+     */
+    @Deprecated
     public static final EnumeratedProperty<String> VERSION_DESCRIPTOR = EnumeratedProperty.<String>named("version")
             .desc("XPath specification version")
             .mappings(XPATH_VERSIONS)
@@ -63,6 +71,8 @@ public class XPathRule extends AbstractRule {
 
     /**
      * Creates a new XPathRule without the corresponding XPath query.
+     *
+     * @deprecated Use {@link #XPathRule(XPathVersion, String)}
      */
     public XPathRule() {
         definePropertyDescriptor(XPATH_DESCRIPTOR);
@@ -73,6 +83,8 @@ public class XPathRule extends AbstractRule {
 
     /**
      * Creates a new XPathRule and associates the XPath query.
+     *
+     * @deprecated Use {@link #XPathRule(XPathVersion, String)}
      */
     public XPathRule(final String xPath) {
         this();
@@ -80,21 +92,38 @@ public class XPathRule extends AbstractRule {
     }
 
     /**
-     * Sets the XPath to query against the desired nodes in {@link #apply(List, RuleContext)}.
+     * Make a new XPath rule with the given version + expression
      *
-     * @param xPath the XPath query
+     * @param version    Version of the XPath language
+     * @param expression XPath expression
+     *
+     * @throws NullPointerException If any of the arguments is null
      */
+    public XPathRule(XPathVersion version, String expression) {
+        Objects.requireNonNull(version, "XPath version is null");
+        Objects.requireNonNull(expression, "XPath expression is null");
+        setXPath(expression);
+        setVersion(version.getXmlName());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use the constructor {@link #XPathRule(XPathVersion, String)},
+     *     don't set the expression after the fact.
+     */
+    @Deprecated
     public void setXPath(final String xPath) {
         setProperty(XPathRule.XPATH_DESCRIPTOR, xPath);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use the constructor {@link #XPathRule(XPathVersion, String)},
+     *     don't set the version after the fact.
+     */
+    @Deprecated
     public void setVersion(final String version) {
         setProperty(XPathRule.VERSION_DESCRIPTOR, version);
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Apply the rule to all nodes.
-     */
     @Override
     public void apply(List<? extends Node> nodes, RuleContext ctx) {
         for (Node node : nodes) {
@@ -107,7 +136,10 @@ public class XPathRule extends AbstractRule {
      *
      * @param node The Node that to be checked.
      * @param data The RuleContext.
+     *
+     * @deprecated Use {@link #apply(List, RuleContext)}
      */
+    @Deprecated
     public void evaluate(final Node node, final RuleContext data) {
         if (xPathRuleQueryNeedsInitialization()) {
             initXPathRuleQuery();
diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/AbstractXPathRuleQuery.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/AbstractXPathRuleQuery.java
index 69c6d0afdf..5647fb9ec8 100644
--- a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/AbstractXPathRuleQuery.java
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/AbstractXPathRuleQuery.java
@@ -9,12 +9,17 @@ import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.RuleContext;
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.annotation.InternalApi;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.Node;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.properties.PropertyDescriptor;
 
 /**
  * This implementation of XPathRuleQuery provides support for RuleChain visits.
+ *
+ * @deprecated Internal API
  */
+@Deprecated
+@InternalApi
 public abstract class AbstractXPathRuleQuery implements XPathRuleQuery {
 
     /**
diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/JaxenXPathRuleQuery.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/JaxenXPathRuleQuery.java
index 2ecd213c9a..1e331a7b28 100644
--- a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/JaxenXPathRuleQuery.java
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/JaxenXPathRuleQuery.java
@@ -31,12 +31,17 @@ import org.jaxen.expr.XPathFactory;
 import org.jaxen.saxpath.Axis;
 
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.RuleContext;
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.annotation.InternalApi;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.Node;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.properties.PropertyDescriptor;
 
 /**
  * This is a Jaxen based XPathRule query.
+ *
+ * @deprecated Internal API
  */
+@Deprecated
+@InternalApi
 public class JaxenXPathRuleQuery extends AbstractXPathRuleQuery {
 
     private static final Logger LOG = Logger.getLogger(JaxenXPathRuleQuery.class.getName());
diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/SaxonXPathRuleQuery.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/SaxonXPathRuleQuery.java
index 3f4178a754..231bd0a917 100644
--- a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/SaxonXPathRuleQuery.java
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/SaxonXPathRuleQuery.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import java.util.logging.Logger;
 import java.util.regex.Pattern;
 
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.RuleContext;
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.annotation.InternalApi;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.Node;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.xpath.saxon.DocumentNode;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.xpath.saxon.ElementNode;
@@ -50,7 +51,11 @@ import net.sf.saxon.value.Value;
 
 /**
  * This is a Saxon based XPathRule query.
+ *
+ * @deprecated Internal API
  */
+@Deprecated
+@InternalApi
 public class SaxonXPathRuleQuery extends AbstractXPathRuleQuery {
     /**
      * Special nodeName that references the root expression.
diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/XPathRuleQuery.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/XPathRuleQuery.java
index dedd90deab..cd1d36c32f 100644
--- a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/XPathRuleQuery.java
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/XPathRuleQuery.java
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.RuleContext;
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.annotation.InternalApi;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.Node;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.properties.PropertyDescriptor;
 
@@ -22,24 +23,38 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.properties.PropertyDescriptor;
  * are recommended to manage internal state that is invariant over AST Nodes in
  * a fashion which facilities high performance (e.g. caching).
  * </p>
+ *
+ * @deprecated This will be internalized in 7.0.0.
  */
+@InternalApi
+@Deprecated
 public interface XPathRuleQuery {
 
     /**
      * XPath 1.0 version.
+     *
+     * @deprecated Use {@link XPathVersion}
      */
+    @Deprecated
     String XPATH_1_0 = "1.0";
 
     /**
      * XPath 1.0 compatibility version.
+     *
+     * @deprecated Use {@link XPathVersion}
      */
+    @Deprecated
     String XPATH_1_0_COMPATIBILITY = "1.0 compatibility";
 
     /**
      * XPath 2.0 version.
+     *
+     * @deprecated Use {@link XPathVersion}
      */
+    @Deprecated
     String XPATH_2_0 = "2.0";
 
+
     /**
      * Set the XPath query string to be used.
      *
diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/XPathVersion.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/XPathVersion.java
index d1871784b8..69841ec29b 100644
--- a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/XPathVersion.java
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/XPathVersion.java
@@ -17,19 +17,17 @@ public enum XPathVersion {
      * @deprecated not supported anymore
      */
     @Deprecated
-    XPATH_1_0("1.0"),
+    XPATH_1_0(XPathRuleQuery.XPATH_1_0),
     /**
      * XPath 1.0 compatibility mode.
      *
      * @deprecated Not supported any more.
      */
     @Deprecated
-    XPATH_1_0_COMPATIBILITY("1.0 compatibility"),
+    XPATH_1_0_COMPATIBILITY(XPathRuleQuery.XPATH_1_0_COMPATIBILITY),
 
     /** XPath 2.0. */
-    XPATH_2_0("2.0"),
-    /** XPath 3.1. */
-    XPATH_3_1("3.1");
+    XPATH_2_0(XPathRuleQuery.XPATH_2_0);
 
     private static final Map<String, XPathVersion> BY_NAME = new HashMap<>();
     private final String version;
diff --git a/pmd-javascript/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ecmascript/Ecmascript3Handler.java b/pmd-javascript/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ecmascript/Ecmascript3Handler.java
index c43f3b5255..d27138b7a3 100644
--- a/pmd-javascript/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ecmascript/Ecmascript3Handler.java
+++ b/pmd-javascript/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ecmascript/Ecmascript3Handler.java
@@ -10,9 +10,7 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.AbstractLanguageVersionHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.Parser;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ParserOptions;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.VisitorStarter;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.XPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.Node;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.xpath.DefaultASTXPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ecmascript.ast.DumpFacade;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ecmascript.ast.EcmascriptNode;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ecmascript.rule.EcmascriptRuleViolationFactory;
@@ -23,11 +21,6 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.RuleViolationFactory;
  */
 public class Ecmascript3Handler extends AbstractLanguageVersionHandler {
 
-    @Override
-    public XPathHandler getXPathHandler() {
-        return new DefaultASTXPathHandler();
-    }
-
     @Override
     public RuleViolationFactory getRuleViolationFactory() {
         return EcmascriptRuleViolationFactory.INSTANCE;
diff --git a/pmd-jsp/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/jsp/JspHandler.java b/pmd-jsp/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/jsp/JspHandler.java
index 8c1dd425e5..f1184c8f23 100644
--- a/pmd-jsp/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/jsp/JspHandler.java
+++ b/pmd-jsp/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/jsp/JspHandler.java
@@ -10,9 +10,7 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.AbstractLanguageVersionHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.Parser;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ParserOptions;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.VisitorStarter;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.XPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.Node;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.xpath.DefaultASTXPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.jsp.ast.DumpFacade;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.jsp.ast.JspNode;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.jsp.rule.JspRuleViolationFactory;
@@ -25,11 +23,6 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.RuleViolationFactory;
  */
 public class JspHandler extends AbstractLanguageVersionHandler {
 
-    @Override
-    public XPathHandler getXPathHandler() {
-        return new DefaultASTXPathHandler();
-    }
-
     @Override
     public RuleViolationFactory getRuleViolationFactory() {
         return JspRuleViolationFactory.INSTANCE;
diff --git a/pmd-modelica/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/modelica/ModelicaHandler.java b/pmd-modelica/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/modelica/ModelicaHandler.java
index cfb5df5bb0..e7c8dbd823 100644
--- a/pmd-modelica/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/modelica/ModelicaHandler.java
+++ b/pmd-modelica/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/modelica/ModelicaHandler.java
@@ -8,19 +8,13 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.AbstractLanguageVersionHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.Parser;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ParserOptions;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.VisitorStarter;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.XPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.Node;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.xpath.DefaultASTXPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.modelica.ast.ASTStoredDefinition;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.modelica.resolver.ModelicaSymbolFacade;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.modelica.rule.ModelicaRuleViolationFactory;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.RuleViolationFactory;
 
 public class ModelicaHandler extends AbstractLanguageVersionHandler {
-    @Override
-    public XPathHandler getXPathHandler() {
-        return new DefaultASTXPathHandler();
-    }
 
     @Override
     public RuleViolationFactory getRuleViolationFactory() {
diff --git a/pmd-plsql/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/plsql/PLSQLHandler.java b/pmd-plsql/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/plsql/PLSQLHandler.java
index 4d354d1501..369561b835 100644
--- a/pmd-plsql/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/plsql/PLSQLHandler.java
+++ b/pmd-plsql/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/plsql/PLSQLHandler.java
@@ -11,9 +11,7 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.DataFlowHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.Parser;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ParserOptions;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.VisitorStarter;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.XPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.Node;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.xpath.DefaultASTXPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.dfa.DFAGraphRule;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.plsql.ast.ASTInput;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.plsql.ast.DumpFacade;
@@ -83,11 +81,4 @@ public class PLSQLHandler extends AbstractLanguageVersionHandler {
         };
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Return minimal XPathHandler to cope with Jaxen XPath Rules.
-     */
-    @Override
-    public XPathHandler getXPathHandler() {
-        return new DefaultASTXPathHandler();
-    }
 }
diff --git a/pmd-visualforce/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/vf/VfHandler.java b/pmd-visualforce/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/vf/VfHandler.java
index afaf88eedd..e40d90f8ab 100644
--- a/pmd-visualforce/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/vf/VfHandler.java
+++ b/pmd-visualforce/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/vf/VfHandler.java
@@ -10,9 +10,7 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.AbstractLanguageVersionHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.Parser;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ParserOptions;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.VisitorStarter;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.XPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.Node;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.xpath.DefaultASTXPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.RuleViolationFactory;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.vf.ast.DumpFacade;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.vf.ast.VfNode;
@@ -20,11 +18,6 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.vf.rule.VfRuleViolationFactory;
 
 public class VfHandler extends AbstractLanguageVersionHandler {
 
-    @Override
-    public XPathHandler getXPathHandler() {
-        return new DefaultASTXPathHandler();
-    }
-
     @Override
     public RuleViolationFactory getRuleViolationFactory() {
         return VfRuleViolationFactory.INSTANCE;
diff --git a/pmd-vm/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/vm/VmHandler.java b/pmd-vm/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/vm/VmHandler.java
index c3cf2a665a..d3f5e54e7c 100644
--- a/pmd-vm/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/vm/VmHandler.java
+++ b/pmd-vm/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/vm/VmHandler.java
@@ -10,9 +10,7 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.AbstractLanguageVersionHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.Parser;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ParserOptions;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.VisitorStarter;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.XPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.Node;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.xpath.DefaultASTXPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.RuleViolationFactory;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.vm.ast.AbstractVmNode;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.vm.rule.VmRuleViolationFactory;
@@ -23,11 +21,6 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.vm.rule.VmRuleViolationFactory;
  */
 public class VmHandler extends AbstractLanguageVersionHandler {
 
-    @Override
-    public XPathHandler getXPathHandler() {
-        return new DefaultASTXPathHandler();
-    }
-
     @Override
     public RuleViolationFactory getRuleViolationFactory() {
         return VmRuleViolationFactory.INSTANCE;
diff --git a/pmd-xml/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/xml/XmlHandler.java b/pmd-xml/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/xml/XmlHandler.java
index 921f73f414..0133a20cd0 100644
--- a/pmd-xml/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/xml/XmlHandler.java
+++ b/pmd-xml/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/xml/XmlHandler.java
@@ -10,9 +10,7 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.AbstractLanguageVersionHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.Parser;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ParserOptions;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.VisitorStarter;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.XPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.Node;
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.xpath.DefaultASTXPathHandler;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.RuleViolationFactory;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.xml.ast.DumpFacade;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.xml.ast.XmlNode;
@@ -23,11 +21,6 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.xml.rule.XmlRuleViolationFactory;
  */
 public class XmlHandler extends AbstractLanguageVersionHandler {
 
-    @Override
-    public XPathHandler getXPathHandler() {
-        return new DefaultASTXPathHandler();
-    }
-
     @Override
     public RuleViolationFactory getRuleViolationFactory() {
         return XmlRuleViolationFactory.INSTANCE;