I am inheriting mineral rights in Oklahoma, and I am looking for an estate attorney in Michigan (where I live) to provide legal counsel to finalize the estate and transfer the ownership to my brother and I.
I consulted a local estate attorney, but he was not familiar with (and did not work on) mineral rights. I live in the Upper Peninsula, and am limited in finding a local estate attorney that specializes (or, at least is informed) in mineral rights. Michigan folks… do you have any recommendations?
My dad is a tax attorney based in Farmington Hills, MI he does alot of estates and has done some oil and gas deals. He is up in the Alpena area quite a bit during the summer. If your in the Sault Ste Marie area wouldn’t be too bad of a drive. Also I am a petroleum engineer and have done lots of mineral evalautions in Oklahoma so if you need a quick assesment on the value I can help you out.
Mineral rights are treated as an interest in land in Oklahoma. Therefore, Oklahoma’s laws and procedures must be followed to transfer the minerals pursuant to an inheritance. What is needed in you case will depend upon how the title to the minerals were held. If they were in a trust, then this should be as simple as a deed. If they were in your parent’s name, then you are likely looking at a probate in Oklahoma. As Todd Baker noted, a Michigan probate alone is insufficient to transfer the Oklahoma minerals. If there is not a reason to probate in Michigan, then you could probably just probate in Oklahoma.
This post is not legal, tax or investment advice. Reading or responding to this post does not create an attorney/client relationship.