I have two deeds which only have metes and bounds descriptions from 1970. is there a way to translate that so I can be sure I have all of the information I need about my ownership interests for legal and financial reasons?
Metes and bounds is the legal description of the location of the minerals. You would use this in a deed or in a lease. Legal description should reference a section, block, Twn, survey, or other information in which it is a smaller tract. Metes and bounds are most often used when the shape of the tract is irregular, such as following a curve. Use a deed plotter program to map the outlines of your mineral tract and then you have to set it inside the section at the starting point to see how it falls within the section.
In a large portion of Texas, sections and/or lots just don’t exist. Someone went out in trackless wilderness, staked out an area by more or less any way he wanted to define it, and told the ruling government, “I want this”, they said, “OK” , and from then on, whoever wanted to buy a piece of it described their piece by metes and bounds out of the original grant. Those are the only legal descriptions that exist. Edgar Tobin Aerial Surveys, out of San Antonio, used to maintain and publish maps showing all this. The maps weren’t cheap, and I don’t know if they are still in business.
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Hi again-- here is a huge development in my understanding. I never understood that the deeds I am trying to figure out with Metes and Bounds descriptions are to the land rights I was willed/inherited, and the tax appraisal numbers where I found my mother’s name still on the rolls are about working wells/ leases that are currently earning money. So confusing but someone finally explained that! I found that the appraisal district in Panola had never recorded my mom’s will (my sister didn’t file it), but Silver Hill and Burk had done their job tracing whom they were supposed to pay. That’s a bit reassuring. Now I need a landman in panola or a lawyer in Panola to file my two deeds with the mets and bounds descriptions with the PAnola County clerk’s office. So confusing and no one in the county was helpful besides one person, after tons of calls, emails and questions. So many people don’t have the privilege of time that I have-- I can’t imagine how anyone ever understands this stuff without being wealthy.
County employees in the clerk’s office cannot provide detailed advice as that can amount to practicing law without a license. Presumably you mean that your sister failed to file the probate records and the deed out of your mother’s estate and into you in the county. A will that is not probated somewhere does not establish title in named beneficiaries. Instead title passes in accordance with Texas intestacy statutes. A lawyer does not have to be physically located in Panola County to help you. See a list in directory on this site.