In the 1940's my wife's grandfather sold half the mineral rights to the Fayetteville Shale under our property, so we are left with 50%. 3% went to a title company in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who wants to keep their ownership. The other 47% is split between two men in Tulsa that can't be found. SEECO sent me this email with this request, " As with your tract The decedents of E.W. Ham and Frank Murk own 50% of the mineral rights, the other 50% is owned by the current surface owners . You wouldn't possibly have any contacts with the decedents of Mr.. Ham or Mr. MurK for us to contact, the chain of title runs out and we have been unable to locate them."

I know regaining mineral rights in Arkansas is tough. Does anyone know how to go about it in this situation. In some states the mineral rights would come back to the surface owners, but not in Arkansas. I've spoken with the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission, and they are sympathetic, but not helpful.

I tried to put all the owners on the tax roles, so I could get the property when the missing owners failed to pay their taxes, but the county refuses to do this.

A lawyer for the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission told me a few lawyers had been successful in helping people like us (50% mineral rights and 100% surface owners with a historic claim on the property) regain all mineral rights. However, he said he questioned the robustness of the recapture. We'll who is going to challenge the recapture if the 1940s buyers or heirs cannot be found. Plus, the State of Arkansas doesn't want to help surface owners because the state gets the money if the lost owners stay lost.

Can someone recommend a good Arkansas mineral rights lawyer?