If you’ve inherited mineral or royalty interests in Texas, you’re probably wondering what that actually means — and what you need to do next. You’re not alone. We help heirs navigate this process every day, and the first thing we tell everyone is the same: don’t rush, and don’t sign anything until you understand what you own.
Inherited mineral rights can be one of the most valuable assets in an estate. But they can also be one of the most confusing. The rights may be spread across multiple counties. There may be royalty payments sitting in suspense that you don’t know about. You may have already received a purchase offer from a company you’ve never heard of. All of that is normal — and all of it is manageable once you have the right information.
What We Do for Heirs
Find Out What You Own
The first step is always title research. We go through the county records to trace exactly what mineral and royalty interests you’ve inherited — where they are, how much you own, and whether they’re currently producing. Many heirs are surprised to learn they own interests in counties they’ve never been to, or that wells are already producing on their property.
This involves examining deed records, probate filings, and historical ownership chains, often going back decades. It’s the same work we do for oil and gas companies, and it’s the foundation for everything else — getting into pay, evaluating offers, or planning for the future.
Get Your Royalty Payments Started
If there are producing wells on your inherited interests, there’s a good chance royalty payments are being held in suspense by the operator. That means money is accumulating, but it won’t be released until the operator has documentation proving you’re the rightful owner.
We handle this directly. We prepare the necessary title documents — whether that’s an affidavit of heirship, probate paperwork, or a combination — and work with the well operators to get your ownership recognized and your payments flowing. In some cases, we’ve also recovered funds that were escheated (sent to the state as unclaimed property) because no one claimed them in time.
Understand the Tax Implications
Inherited mineral rights come with a significant tax advantage called the step-up basis. In short, your cost basis is reset to the fair market value at the time of the previous owner’s death — which can dramatically reduce capital gains taxes if you later sell.
Getting a proper valuation at the time of death is critical. Without one, you may have difficulty establishing the stepped-up basis if the IRS asks. We work with qualified appraisers to make sure this is documented correctly.
Deal With Purchase Offers the Right Way
If you’ve received an offer to buy your inherited mineral rights, read this first. The short version: most offers are below market value, and you should never sign anything until you know exactly what you own and what it’s worth.
We help heirs evaluate purchase offers by completing the title research first, then analyzing production data, comparable sales, and future development potential. That way, if you do decide to sell, you’re making that decision with full information — not guessing.
For Executors, Trustees, and Attorneys
If you’re managing an estate that includes mineral interests, we provide the research and documentation you need to handle them properly. This includes property identification across multiple counties, ownership verification, production analysis, and the title work required to transfer interests to the correct heirs.
We work with estate attorneys regularly and deliver work product that meets the documentation standards required for probate proceedings. If you need landman support for an estate matter, contact us to discuss the scope.
What to Expect When You Call Us
We’ll ask you a few basic questions — who passed away, what you know about the property, whether you have any documents (deeds, royalty statements, division orders). Don’t worry if you don’t have much. Most heirs don’t. That’s exactly why we’re here.
From there, we’ll outline what the research involves, what it will cost, and how long it typically takes. No pressure, no sales pitch. We’ll tell you what we can do and you decide if it makes sense for your situation.
Doggett Land Services, LLC provides professional land services including title research, mineral rights documentation, and ownership verification. We are not attorneys and do not provide legal or tax advice. We recommend consulting with a qualified attorney and tax professional for legal and tax matters related to inherited mineral rights.