This well is listed as “confidential” as far as drilling activity goes.
Will I be informed if it becomes productive if I have not had my mineral rights probated? Although my sister and I own the mineral rights, our deceased father owns part as well.
I am in the dark here having recently been informed we own these rights. We have leased them and a well is being drilled.
Another question; If my father’s will has been probated in New Mexico, am I required to hire an attorney to probate in North Dakota to get access to my mineral rights there?
Ms. Goodwin, likely you will have to probate in ND. I have heard of a circumstance where someone had a probate still open in another state and the proceeds from wells in ND were sent to the estate of the deceased. I think it would be best to do the probate the state of ND requires, but you may wait to see if the well(s) produce. If you decide to probate in ND, I would pick a County on the Minnesota border, far from the oil patch, for faster and hopefully less expensive legal fees. You can probate in any County in ND.
Do you know if I will be notified if the well produces? The mineral rights are in my name as well as in my deceased father’s name.
The operator should send you a division order, probably about 4 months after first sales, judging by my own wells.
Do you have any idea what a probate might cost?
It depends on the lawyer. Since you should have the original probate, there shouldn’t be a great deal to do with the ancillary probate in ND except open proceedings, read in the previous probate, and close proceedings. I think you can find a lawyer to do it for $1500 to $3000 but it depends on the lawyer. This need not be an O&G lawyer.
Donna Goodwin said:
Do you have any idea what a probate might cost?