Daughter’s co-worker inherited a bunch of stuff from Grandmother. Grandmother lived in Oklahoma and will left everything except cars to granddaughter. In Texas, apparently Grandmother owned quite a bit of mineral rights?
Deceased Grandmother named Francis Elizabeth Franklin. Please help my daughter’s co-worker. It is my understanding that this granddaughter needs to file a probate in Texas? I don’t believe heirs or Grandmother even knew of these mineral rights?
She may be able to get by with an affidavit of heirship. I said that because I can use that in Texas but not in Oklahoma. In Oklahoma, I have to open up probate for my mom. Wishing her good luck!
Was the will probated in Oklahoma? Texas accepts out of state probates.
She can file a Certified Copy of the Oklahoma Probate (at least the Will and Order Admitting Will to Probate) in each of the counties where Grandmother owned minerals. That should satisfy any company for leasing and royalty payments.
Hi, I am the individual he is talking about. I do have a probate, I do have a last will and testament, and I am the sole heir of everything. I am very knowledgeable in this area, but I do have a lot of the paperwork that I have collected over years. I have a probate and it names me the sole heir as well as listing some of her properties, as well as listing other people as getting nothing. A lot of people were not doing the right thing when they filed this probate. I am in need of serious help. If anyone can help me or give me guidance, I am willing to take it.
I do have a copy of the probate and of the will. It looks like she did a lot of things right, but I don’t know how to find the stuff that was left to me. I’m pretty sure I need a lawyer, but I definitely do not have the money for one.
You can start on texasfile searching your grandmother’s name, and maybe any names she might have inherited the minerals from. They have a statewide minerals search function. I believe the cost is 25 cents per search. Also, it’s probably worthwhile to search the state’s unclaimed funds website for her name to see if anything is there.
Is there a way I can search case numbers or case files in Texas by just her name? I tried to figure it out today but was unsuccessful. And what website is this that you’re talking about for the nationwide search?
You will need a Certified Copy of your Grandmother’s Will and the Order Admitting the Will to Probate, available only from the County where the probate proceedings happened. That is likely the County where she was last living. You then take those documents to any Texas County where she owned minerals and file those copies in the Official Records.
Ok yes, I have all of that and then some, but can I mail them to Texas like I’m in Oklahoma lol or do I have to go down there?
It would be best to contact that County Clerk to determine their process for filing through the mail. They can tell you the cost for filing.
You will need to do that for each county, as procedure and costs may vary.
Good luck.
If you already know the county(s) where the minerals are located, you can search on the county clerk of courts website for property records by name. Some counties charge a fee for looking at the documents, and some let you at least preview them for no charge.
If you don’t know which counties the minerals are in, then you need to use TexasFile.
Either of these options lets you search just by her name.
Make sure you send by certified mail and keep a copy of everything that you send.
Calecia, since the will has been through probate in Oklahoma you are technically a devisee as well as an heir. You can use TexasFile.com to perform research on the properties. Each county has a Central Appraisal District so you can search for any properties in your grandmother’s name that may have production. The Google search for a CAD is the county name followed by a space and then CAD, then look through the website for the search function. You can file the certified copy in the county recorder’s office. You cannot add any information to the document since that will nullify the certification. You can attach a copy of the document to an Affidavit which includes your contact information. There are many other issues that you may need to consider depending on any title requirements or value. Good luck.
So I tried this option and used the tax file because I really don’t know too much about my grandmother/mother because she adopted me and now I’m labeled as her daughter on all her probate information. The problem is I don’t know any of these people. I don’t know anything about them. I am 32 years old and I just now am finding out about all of this. I’ve known a few things for a few years but when I asked family members questions nobody seems to know anything and doesn’t want to tell me anything. So I am having a hard time. I’m just poking in the dark honestly. All I have is these papers but I am going to continue to push on and all this information is super helpful because I definitely don’t know which way to go but I am still checking all websites and seeing what I can find on her since I didn’t know her.
I can definitely send it certified mail. I’m first waiting to get back the information from Texas and then seeing if I can go from there.
Yeah, but my issue is I know nothing about any of the properties. I don’t know what properties she has in Texas. I just did the unclaimed property search to see if those are it. I barely know about some of the ones in Oklahoma. I have paperwork that has stuff from Oklahoma on it. I tried the Texas file and I messed that up, then spent like $40 trying to do searches because I don’t know how to use it. Some of the paperwork I have is like real long; it says like Rifle Range Number Seven Track 10 stuff I don’t understand at all. So I may have to learn about some of this first to understand what I am looking at because I have no idea what county, I have no idea anything. I just know she is from Bryan, Texas, and that is it. I was 20 months old when all this was taking place.
This type of research can be frustrating for novices. First, do you know the counties where your mother/grandmother owned mineral properties? It is good that you checked unclaimed property. Did you discover any unclaimed funds? If so, were you able to determine which companies sent the funds to the State? The probate will help you collect any unclaimed funds, but the States may have further requirements depending on the amounts. I understand your desire to not spend money on this process; however, there are at least minor costs associated with this type of work. Get back to me with further details so I can help you develop a plan with an expected budget. Then you can decide to do the work yourself or get some professional assistance.
Yes, I have been searching. I did one claim initially in Oklahoma; they did send me something back a few years ago. Now I’m doing some claims in Texas, but what is difficult for me is I don’t know anything about this woman at all, so I can’t confirm like, “Oh, this is her.” I can only just type in and send off paperwork and see what they send me back. That’s what I’m waiting on now—to see what they are now going to send me back from Texas. But in Oklahoma, I have the last piece of paperwork that they ever did. Some people were not honest, so it does make it very difficult. I will be spending the money to access some sites. Just point me in the right direction. I’m very grateful for the help.
You might also check https://www.claimittexas.gov/ for the unclaimed funds if there were producing minerals. There could or would be money in there perhaps if there was production and the production company or buyer didn’t have a good address or lease. This would continue until foreclosure and then likely the funds would stay in your grandmother’s name until claimed.