If you’re an attorney handling a matter that involves mineral rights in Texas or New Mexico, there’s a good chance you need landman support at some point in the process. Title research, heirship documentation, ownership verification, curative work: these are time-intensive tasks that require someone who knows their way around county clerk records and understands what you need in the finished product.
That’s what we do. We provide title research and land services specifically for attorneys handling probate, estate administration, real estate transactions, and mineral-related legal matters. We deliver work product that’s ready for your use, and we communicate clearly throughout the process so you’re never guessing about status or timeline.
How Attorneys Use Us
Probate and estate administration. When an estate includes mineral interests, someone needs to identify what’s owned, where it’s located, and whether it’s producing. We handle the county-level research to document mineral and royalty interests for probate inventories. This includes tracing ownership chains across multiple counties, verifying current production, identifying suspended royalties, and preparing the title documentation needed to transfer interests to the correct heirs. If the estate needs a mineral appraisal for step-up basis purposes, we work with qualified appraisers and provide the ownership and production data they need to complete the valuation.
Title opinion support. If you’re preparing a drilling or division order title opinion and need the underlying title work done, we run the chain of title, identify defects, and deliver a documented ownership report. We also handle curative: locating missing instruments, preparing affidavits of heirship, coordinating with county clerks for proper recording, and following up until the defect is cleared. Our goal is to hand you a clean file, not a pile of loose ends.
Heirship and inheritance matters. Inherited mineral interests often come with gaps in the ownership chain: missing probates, unrecorded deeds, name discrepancies, interests split across multiple generations of heirs. We research the heirship, prepare the supporting documentation, and work with operators to get ownership recognized and royalty payments flowing. If your client is an heir who doesn’t know what they own or where to start, this is what we do every day.
Real estate transactions involving minerals. When a land sale or purchase involves mineral interests, title research is essential to determine what’s being conveyed and what’s been previously reserved. We research the mineral ownership history to identify prior severances, reservations, and conveyances so your client knows exactly what they’re buying or selling.
Dispute support. For royalty disputes, ownership challenges, or contested mineral interests, we provide the factual research: chain of title, ownership calculations, production history, and lease analysis. We deliver documented findings that support your legal analysis.
What You Get from Us
We know attorneys need work product they can rely on without having to redo the research themselves. Here’s how we work:
- Documented findings, not summaries. We provide detailed ownership reports with specific instrument references (volume/page, instrument number, recording date). Every conclusion is traceable back to a recorded document.
- Regular communication. You’ll know where the project stands without having to chase us. If we find something unexpected during the research, you’ll hear about it when we find it, not at the end.
- Scope control. We define the scope upfront and stick to it. If the project expands (and in mineral title work, it sometimes does), we discuss it with you before running up the bill.
- Confidentiality. Client information stays confidential. We don’t discuss your matters with anyone outside the engagement.
About DLS
Doggett Land Services is based in Fort Worth, Texas. We handle land services across Texas and New Mexico, with most of our work concentrated in the Permian Basin. We work with estate attorneys, real estate attorneys, and oil and gas counsel on a regular basis. Our work product meets the documentation standards required for probate proceedings, title opinions, and transactional due diligence.
If you have a matter that needs landman support, contact us to discuss the scope. We’ll tell you what’s involved, what it will cost, and how long it will take.