Hello Everyone,
I am trying to get my mineral rights straight but unsure where to start, tbh I am not even sure where all I have them…… should only be in Oklahoma but who knows! Where is a good place to start?
I think you have started! Posting on this forum is a great start! I wish I were more knowledgeable and could offer good suggestions but I’m just a few months into my search of my families mineral rights and my knowledge is sketchy at best!! But there are some wonderful and very experienced folks here that offer great advice to us novices!
Start with what you do know. Who did you inherit from? Was there a description of the minerals?
You can hunt for unclaimed funds with the state Treasurer’s office. Oklahoma State Treasurer - Unclaimed Property Also look at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission Mineral Owners Escrow Account
You can look for the ancestor’s name in www.okcountyrecords.com. It is free to look and doesn’t cost much to print documents.
Make sure that the probate is filed properly in the state and county of the ancestor’s domicile. If not in OK, then you have another filing to do in OK in every county where there are minerals.
Make sure that every heir files their name and address in every county where there are minerals-along with a description of the minerals.
Every heir needs to notify the operators of every well to change the pay status for the well.
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Sixty-five counties are available through OkCountyRecords and it is possible to do a remedial name search through that link. Twelve counties listed below must be searched individually:
Caddo County —Search Canadian County– Search Cleveland County Clerk Search Creek County– Search Garfield County, Search Oklahoma County-Search Payne County —Search Pottawatomie County– Search Rogers County Clerk—Search Tulsa County Clerk Subscription based or Free Pre-Statehood to 1923
Wagoner County —Search Woods, Search
This post is not legal, tax or investment advice. Reading or responding to this post does not create an attorney/client relationship.
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I inherited minerals from my cousin in 1998 (Texas). I am now making a will and don’t know how to list the minerals. Is it a description of the property or a deed? Is there a place in Texas to look up the ancestor’s name and properties? Thank you
I am one of the most inexperienced people on this website so my suggestion needs to be double checked, and maybe even triple checked!!! But it is my thought that the deed needs to be identified as that is the true right to your mineral rights. Leases may come and go but the Deed defines your rights to the minerals and that stays with you.
Most Texas counties seem to have a place on their website to view and request copies of recorded documents. And https://www.texasfile.com is a great source of finding documents across the vast majority of Texas counties. I believe maybe four or five counties don’t participate.
I hope this helps, and I also hope some of the more experienced people in this forum will chime in!
In most states a Will can be a dumb document in that it only needs to describe who gets your stuff. It works even if the exact asset is not specifically identified. I.E All my oil and gas mineral rights to my children. Of course, it will become a headache for the children to discover them.
Visit with your estate planning attorney about a trust. It avoids probate if the assets are properly retitled. With minerals, this is accomplished with a mineral deed from your self to the trust (technically, to yourself as trustee of your trust.)
You might not have a deed if you inherited property. For example, in Oklahoma a recorded probate order transfers minerals to the individual(s) who inherit without the need of a deed. A Texas attorney or landman may be able to help you identify those properties.
Finally, it is good to see a mineral owner being coconscious with planning. Too many just leave a mess.
This post is not legal, tax or investment advice. Reading or responding to this post does not create an attorney/client relationship.
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Thank you. That helps me.
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