How do I find out who owns mineral rights in West Virginia?

You can contact the West Virginia Surface Owner’s Rights Organization by visiting www.wvsoro.org, or call 304-346-5891.

When do you need a mineral rights attorney?

If you possess mineral rights on any real property, you may benefit from a great understanding of your rights and potential profitable claim with the advice and guidance of a mineral rights attorney. Owning mineral rights presents potential, yet that potential is only as valuable as your understanding of rights and laws governing mineral estates.

Do you have to be the surface owner of mineral rights?

Like many answers, it depends. (We’re assuming here that you are the surface owner). It depends simply on whether in the past the mineral estate (the mineral rights) have ever been severed (separated, removed) from the surface estate.

Who are the people who own the minerals?

In order to identify who owns the minerals underneath a tract of land, oil and gas companies employ people commonly known as Landmen.

Is there a conflict of interest with mineral rights?

By the simple fact of the way the industry is structured, oil companies employ the great majority of landmen; thus with any anticipated work, it is important that mineral owners establish up front that there is no conflict of interest involved in your particular situation.

Who are the owners of mineral rights in West Virginia?

Those mineral rights passed down to his heirs, and you are one of his heirs. You are now the proud, if a little confused, owner of mineral rights in West wherever-that-is Virginia. To complicate things, the landman is asking you to sign a lease, and maybe an Affidavit of Heirship, and probably a couple other documents related to the lease.

In order to identify who owns the minerals underneath a tract of land, oil and gas companies employ people commonly known as Landmen.