My family members and I received a letter with an offer to purchase my ancestors property in Midland. We would like to keep it. I have a copy of the deed and a marriage license connecting us. Can anyone recommend an Attorney to help with the heirship and then setting up royalties and future leases? The land is currently being drilled on. Thank you
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I had a similar need in Martin County. I used Rudolph Woerndle out of Midland , TX. He’s an oil and gas attorney. Good luck
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Welcome aboard!
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T.J. Matthews there in Midland
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How far back does your ancestor go? Also, did anyone in the chain die and leave a will that was admitted to probate anywhere?
I had to find the first wife of the man who had married grandmother. His first wife died in 1958. This man married my grandmother in the late 50s, early 60s. He died before I was born. My grandmother died in 1993.
ancestry.com helped a lot.
I had to find this woman’s probated will. Luckily I found it in LA. A hand written will.
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My ancestor went back to 1926 when the deed was put in her name. Changed hands through marriage. There were no wills/probate.
Yes, you will either need to file an affidavit of heirship showing the chain of intestate title to you from your heir in 1926, or you will need a proceeding to declare heirship. Most oil companies accept the Affidavit of Heirship; a few do not. My first suggestion is to try to contact oil company that is drilling to determine whether they will accept the affidavit of heirship. Given how far back the heir is, you probably will have a fairly complicated heirship, and any necessary curative measure would benefit multiple people. You may want to consider working with the other heirs to bear the cost of the lawyer.
Thank you kindly.