Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bacon on October 27, 2011 at 10:00

You want an attorney in LA.  Preferably in north LA.  There's not a lot of choices for the land owner.  I don't have any experience with him other than a phone chat, but Randall Davidson gets pretty good reviews from several people on here.

Permalink Reply by Abington on October 27, 2011 at 11:11

Marc Dupuy, Jr also has a great reputation for land owners.

Permalink Reply by Henry on October 27, 2011 at 23:44

What are you looking for this lawyer to do?

Permalink Reply by Ken Boone on November 3, 2011 at 6:18

I may need a lawyer because I am an heir to some land, which has a well on it. The family member who contacted me gave me little information. The Oil & gas company who are paying out the royalties, didn't include about 7 heirs. The company mailed out checks to other heirs and some they mailed out DOs. Big screw up. I was told the name of the well was Galaxy, but the "company" informed me there was no well in LA in Galaxy only in TX.

I don't know the well location or land location ie. sec/twnshp/rng. I am lost. THe only info that I was given by a family member was the name "Galaxy" and that it was in DeSoto Parish, and the owner number, and of course I have my Grandmother's name.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on November 3, 2011 at 6:39

Ken, I think the name your are looking for may be Gallaspy.  Sounds kinda like galaxy.  These are Chesapeake wells in S30-12N-11W, S19-12N-11W and S25-12N-12W, all in DeSoto Parish.

Permalink Reply by Ken Boone on November 3, 2011 at 7:15

Is it the case that different wells have the same names? Who gives the well its name?

Thanks

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on November 3, 2011 at 8:22

The operator names the well and usually does so by using the name of the lessor upon whose land the surface location lies or the lessor with the majority ownership in the unit.  There are no rules governing the naming of wells.

Permalink Reply by Henry on November 3, 2011 at 8:25

The well is usually named based on where the surface location is.  The name usually given is the person who owns that land. 

In the Haynesville Shale, a well almost always provides revenue to all of the landowners of the section it drains, not just the person it is named for.  So even if your name is not on the well, you would still be eligible for royalties if you owned any minerals in that section. 

I think your first step, before you contact an attorney, is get a copy of the division order from one of your relatives to see where the land and well is.  Then, put together a cogent story about why you think you own part of this land (e.g., my great-grandfather owned 100 acres, and when he died it was split equally among his children, and so forth. )  Get as much documentation as you can to support your ownership.  These docs will include judgements of possession, affidavits of heirships, deeds of sale, etc.  You might find that there is someone in the family who understands the family tree enough to help you put together the ownership story.  

Finally, contact the company, and see if they agree you are an heir.   You might be able to get it resolved without an attorney.

 

Permalink Reply by Ken Boone on November 3, 2011 at 14:42

Thanks for the information.

Permalink Reply by Ken Boone on November 21, 2011 at 11:17

I've tried contacting the company to see if I am on the list of heirs, I am given the run around. Then they tell me to leave a message for the person who is handling that file. I have left 4 messages and no respone. So is it time to get a lawyer now??

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on November 21, 2011 at 12:33

Did they offer you a lease?  If not, they probably do not think you own an interest in the minerals.  You haven't provided enough specific information to give a good answer.  Yes, it may take an O&G attorney.

Permalink Reply by Ken Boone on November 21, 2011 at 13:49

I was contacted by a family member after the death of my grandmother who told me I have interest in her land and that. At death my grandmother's interest would have gone to my mother and other siblings, but since my mother is also dead, it goes to me. This is what the family member told. I was told that the gas company received a list of heirs and would be mailing people checks soon. They received their checks, but non of the "dead sibling's children" received anything. I was told that additional information was sent in to the company regarding us, but I haven't been mailed anything. And when I call the company, I get the run around.

 

So my question is, do I need to get a lawyer who has to do a judgement of possession for me? Does each individual have to do their own? Is their a statue of limitations on me submitting my claim for the royalties. 

Did I mention that my grandmother already has a lease that she signed before she died?

If the company sees that I am an heir, will they draw me up a new lease? Are prior contracts voidable after death?

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page