Dormant Mineral Statutes in Nebraska - Mineral Owner Beware

Bruce Wernow · 2014-06-24T13:54:34Z

I have a major issue with this. Here goes the story. My great uncle bought some mineral rights in Dundy County, Nebraska around 1959 (I have the deeds). He passed away 1982 and lived in Oklahoma. He died in Brooklyn New York VA Hospital and buried in the National Cemetery Calverton Long Island. He had a will and it was probated in Oklahoma. There were 3 heirs in his will that were left his Mineral Rights (I have the Oklahoma Probate). We did not probate his will in Nebraska. Who would have thought you had to do that? Back in 1982 I do not think there were laws enabling the land owners to regain control of their mineral rights. Then it seems in the last few years Nebraska passed laws giving the land owners the ability to regain the mineral right to their land and take them away from the family members that inherited them (to me that is robbery). Somehow by accident I stumbled on to the lawyer that represented the land owner and he was nice enough to confirm that the land owner took possession in 2013. Is there any way that we can have this overturned and the mineral rights returned to their rightful heirs? I have all documentation proving we are the rightful owners of these deeds? To me this is the government allowing the Land Owner to Rob the Mineral Rights Owners. In other states the production of mineral rights are put into trust funds and returned to the heirs if they are found. I feel something has to be done to stop this from happening to the heirs of mineral rights. I am willing to bet there are a lot of people out there that this is happening to and it would be nice if some lawyer would get involved and have this Nebraska law overturned. How can this be constitutional? It does not make sense to me that Nebraska can get away with this. If I understand this law (a land owner does a half-ass search in Dundy County Nebraska) and that is good enough for him to regain the Mineral Rights. Please feel free to post feedback on this. Maybe it will help us all out. Maybe we all have to pull together and get this crazy unfair law overturned. NOT A HAPPY CAMPER I am interested in hearing the views of other members on this topic.

General Mineral Rights Discussion