Hello. I have a question on West Virginia law regarding inheritance of mineral interests when someone dies without a will. The original owner of the mineral rights was married when he deceased; his spouse had children from a prior marriage (stepchildren to the mineral owner, not adopted), plus the mineral owner and his spouse had one child in this marriage. Spouse subsequently dies without will/probate. Who would inherit the mineral interests? Does the son inherit 100% as only issue to the original mineral owner? Does the son and spouse each get 50%, in which case would spouse’s 50% be divided between the son and the stepchildren of the original mineral owner? Or would spouse get 100% and the son only receive inheritance from his mother (split between the son and all her children from previous marriage)?
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!
Mike