Hi all,
I was recently notified that my family has mineral rights and I’m the heir. Can someone help me figure out how to get more information about the rights and formalize the paperwork? I’ve been doing a lot of research today and just getting started. Thank you.
Mike
The first thing to do is ask the agent who notified you why they think you are the heir. Ask for the paragraph of title opinion that leads them to that conclusion. They may not want to give it to you, but you can ask the name of the person that would be the ancestor. Ask what state and county and a description of the acreage. Then you can go to the county courthouse and look up the title chain (or you may need the help of a landman). Many counties are online back to a certain date depending upon the scanning. Depending upon the state, you may be able to file an affidavit of heirship or other states may require a probate. Situation depends.
Mike,
Over the past couple of years, I have been going through what may be a similar situation. I was contacted by someone wanting to buy mineral rights that I did not know I had. Turned out a relative who died 21 years ago had left mineral rights to my wife who had died a year later and left everything to me. In my case, the person who contacted me had assumed my wife had died intestate and thought my holdings were half what they are. That person was able to identify the original owner, which allowed me to start a search of state unclaimed property in the state where the mineral rights are.
Thanks for the replies! I was approached with a legal document (with every ancestor listed correctly) for surface rights above our minerals. I’ve been doing quite a lot of research lately but need some help with narrowing down the specific borders. The area has active wells and capped wells, including some on the property. It sounds like a trip to the county is in order, so I’ll need to know what to expect. Will this be a 2 or 3 day adventure with multiple visits to the county office? Or will this be a process that will require weeks of research and digging? Thank you!
Depends upon which state and what resources are available online. Depending upon how far back, you may be able to do quite a bit without leaving home. If you mention the state, folks may be able to give you some direction.
This is really difficult to answer as many factors can impact the research. Many counties across the nation permit online research. Availability and costs vary widely. I would certainly exhaust online resources before traveling to review records at a courthouse. Also, once you get there they will probably have you begin with a computer terminal anyways.
This post is not legal, tax or investment advice. Reading or responding to this post does not create an attorney/client relationship.
If you are looking in OK, the best place to start your online search is www.okcountyrecords.com. It is free to search and a minimal charge to print. I download digitally. I have found the “advanced search” option more helpful.
If you are looking in Texas, the best place to start is www.Texasfile.com
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