How To Find Who Owns Mineral Rights in Texas

Owning land in Texas goes beyond just the trees, fields, or buildings you see above the ground. Beneath the surface, there may be oil, gas, and other valuable minerals tied to the state’s strong oil and gas industry. These hidden resources can carry financial opportunities for landowners. That is, if they have the right kind of ownership.

That’s why knowing how to find who owns mineral rights in Texas matters. Keep reading as we walk you through the basics of mineral rights ownership and the steps you can take to determine your mineral rights ownership. Understanding these details can help landowners, heirs, and buyers make better choices about property, royalty payments, and long-term financial plans.

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Key Takeaways

• Mineral rights in Texas can be separated from surface rights, meaning landowners may not always own what’s beneath their property.
• The value of oil and gas mineral rights depends on factors like location, market conditions, and production history.
• Mineral rights can be leased, held, or sold, but they often require careful evaluation and documentation.
• Working with professionals like The Mineral Auction helps you understand ownership, secure fair offers, and maximize the value of your mineral rights.

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How to Find Mineral Rights Ownership in Texas

Knowing who owns the mineral rights under your land can be just as important as knowing who owns the land on the surface. In Texas, mineral rights and surface rights can be split, sold, or even passed down through families. To find out if you also own the land beneath your surface property, you need to do a little research using public records and the right resources. The steps below can guide you on how to find mineral rights ownership in Texas:

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1. Start with Your Property Deed

Checking your property deed is often the first step when you want to determine mineral rights ownership. Your deeds show if mineral rights were included when the land was sold or if a past owner kept them. Look for words like “oil,” “gas,” or “mineral reservation.” These will tell you if mineral ownership is still tied to your land or if someone else owns it.

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2. Visit the County Clerk’s Office

The county clerk’s office is a great place to check property records and ownership history. Bring the legal description of your land, which you can get from the tax office if needed. Ask the county clerk to look through the deed records in reverse order, starting from the most recent. This helps you follow the chain of mineral rights ownership over time.

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3. Check Mineral Records

Many counties also keep mineral records that list the mineral rights owners in the area. These can help you see if your land has separate owners for surface rights and gas mineral rights. Sometimes, counties put these ownership records online, but you may need to search in person. You may also be able to make a records request through the Texas Railroad Commission’s mineral rights database on the wells in the state.

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4. Get Help with Your Mineral Rights Search

If the process feels confusing, you can use an online record search company, hire a landman, or ask a mineral rights attorney to do a full title search. These professionals use both internal and external resources to track down who owns what. They can explain if you still own the rights or if they were sold, leased, or passed down as inherited mineral rights.

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Mineral Rights vs. Surface Rights

Property ownership might not be as simple as you think. Owning land does not always mean you own what’s under it. You may only have surface rights, which let you use the land for farming, building, or other purposes restricted to the surface. Surface rights cover the soil, water, and shallow ground for things such as basements, but they do not include oil, gas, or mineral ownership.

Mineral rights, on the other hand, give the owner power to drill, mine, and sell resources like oil, gas, and metals. These rights can be sold, leased, or passed down as inherited mineral rights. This means the person living on the land may not be the one receiving royalty payments from the oil and gas industry. Knowing the difference between mineral and surface rights helps you better understand your land and its true value.

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Rights of Mineral Owners

Owning mineral rights in Texas gives you special legal powers that surface owners without mineral rights do not have. These rights are tied to the mineral estate and allow you to use, sell, or profit from the resources under your land. Knowing about these rights can help you protect your property and understand your options in the oil and gas industry.

Here are the main rights that mineral owners possess:

• The Right to Explore – You can search for oil, gas, and other minerals beneath your land.
• The Right to Develop – You can drill, mine, and produce resources from your property.
• The Right to Lease – You can sign an oil, gas, or mineral lease with a company to let them do the work in exchange for royalty interests.
• The Right to Royalty Payments – You can collect money from the oil and gas produced on your land.
• The Right to Bonus Payments – You may get extra money when you first sign a lease.
• The Right to Sell or Transfer – You can sell your mineral rights or pass them on as inherited mineral rights through a mineral deed.

These rights can create real value, but not every property will produce oil or gas. To know what your mineral ownership is worth, you may need help from a broker or mineral rights attorney.

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Determining the Value of Your Oil and Gas Mineral Rights

The value of oil and gas mineral rights in Texas can be very high, but it depends on many factors. The location, market prices, and the size of your property can all change the worth. That’s why no two pieces of land are ever the same when it comes to mineral rights ownership. 

Knowing what affects your mineral estate’s value can help you make smarter choices when selling, leasing, or keeping your rights. Here are the main factors that affect the value of mineral ownership:

• Location – Areas with proven oil and gas reserves or active drilling usually have a higher value.
• Oil and Gas Prices – When the gas industry sets high prices, mineral rights often rise in value.
• Size of Property – Larger tracts of land with more mineral acres can bring stronger offers.
• Production History – Producing rights with steady royalty payments are usually worth more than non-producing ones. However, a long history may be a sign of depleted assets.
• Lease Terms – Royalty rates, lease bonuses, and other terms can raise or lower the sale value.
• Future Potential – Nearby drilling, new wells, or better technology can increase your mineral value.

To get a fair price, many mineral rights owners work with brokers, appraisers, or a mineral rights attorney. Others list their property with trusted platforms like The Mineral Auction. Comparing offers and watching market trends can help you ensure your mineral rights ownership gets its true worth.

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What to Do If You Inherited Mineral Rights in Texas

Inheriting mineral rights in Texas can be confusing, especially if you’re new to the oil and gas industry. These rights may be passed down through a will, a trust, or a transfer deed. Unlike other property, mineral rights ownership is often shared among family members and may not include clear records. 

That’s why researching inherited mineral rights through public records, property deeds, or a record search company is a smart first step. Using mineral management software or speaking with a mineral rights attorney can also guide you in handling ownership history and making the right decision.

After confirming you are one of the mineral rights owners, you can choose to hold, develop, lease, or sell mineral rights. Leasing means you might earn royalty payments if an oil and gas company drills on the land. Selling gives you a lump sum, which can help if you prefer guaranteed value. 

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Take the Next Step in Finding Mineral Rights Ownership with The Mineral Auction

A proper understanding of who owns mineral rights in Texas can help you make the right decisions about your property and resources. Whether you’re a landowner, heir, or buyer, knowing where ownership lies can impact your financial opportunities and future plans.

At The Mineral Auction, we make the process clearer by helping mineral rights owners connect with qualified buyers through a fair and transparent auction system. Our team is here to simplify the steps, answer your questions, and ensure you get the best possible outcome if you want to sell mineral rights.

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Want to sell your Texas mineral rights? Partner with The Mineral Auction today.

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