Here is another factor, somewhat detail-oriented: They only cut (prepare) checks once a month. Suppose the company cuts checks on the 20th of every month, based on pay status codes entered 3 business days before the 20th. Suppose, in my example, that 3 business days before the 20th is indeed the 17th. One scenario might have the Land Dept finishing their review and approval of your paperwork on the 16th, at which time the employee changes your code from "suspense" to "pay" status, in which case a check would be mailed to you 4 days later, on the 20th of that same month. Another scenario might have the Land Dept finishing review/approval, and changing your code from "suspense" to "pay", on the 18th of December, in which case you miss the Dec 20 payout date, and your check won't be mailed until Jan 20th.
The royalty relations dept employee might be able to "easily" answer the following questions:
a. When do checks get prepared and mailed.
b. How many days before the preparation date does the owner have to be changed to pay status.
c. What is my current pay status, am I still in suspense, or have I been changed to pay status yet?
d. How much are you holding for me in suspense as of right now? How many months royalty income is that?
The Land Dept would be in charge of reviewing the paperwork, and those employees are generally harder to reach. I have encountered some companies where the Land Dept employees don't answer calls. You have to leave a voice mail or send an email and then wait for them to call you back. The Land Dept is the department that would be able to tell you how they are coming in their review of your paperwork, was there anything else that they needed, have they come across any problems, etc. It may be harder for you to get this kind of information.