How do I know if I actually own mineral rights in New Mexico?
Owning the land does not always mean you own the minerals underneath it. In New Mexico, mineral rights may have been separated from the surface rights many years ago. The minerals could be privately owned, reserved by a previous owner, owned by the State of New Mexico, or associated with federal land.
A good place to start is with the records in the county where the mineral interest is located. Deeds, mineral deeds, reservations, probate records and other recorded documents may help establish ownership. Depending on the property, records maintained by the Bureau of Land Management or the New Mexico State Land Office may also be relevant.
Don't know exactly what you own? That's okay. Tell us what information you have, and we can start reviewing the interest from there.
How much are my mineral rights in New Mexico worth?
There is no single price per acre for New Mexico mineral rights. Two mineral interests located in the same county can have dramatically different values.
Important factors can include the county and exact location, producing versus non-producing status, current royalty income, net mineral acres, royalty percentage, existing lease terms, the operator, nearby wells, future drilling potential, current oil and natural gas prices, title and ownership, and development activity surrounding the property.
This is why a generic online price-per-acre estimate usually cannot accurately value a specific mineral interest. If you'd like us to review your interest, submit whatever information you have. There is no obligation to sell simply because you request a review.
Can I sell inherited mineral rights in New Mexico?
Potentially, yes. A large number of mineral owners received their interests through parents, grandparents or other family members.
Inherited interests can be complicated because the deceased owner may still appear in county records, several heirs may own fractions, probate may have happened in another state, or the family may not know how much it owns. That does not automatically mean the mineral rights cannot be sold.
The first step is usually figuring out what interest was inherited and how title currently stands. Depending on the circumstances, an attorney or title professional may need to help resolve ownership before a transaction can close.
Can I sell mineral rights that are already producing royalty income?
Yes, producing mineral and royalty interests can potentially be sold. Recent royalty statements, the operator name, well information, your ownership decimal, lease information, production history and the county and legal description are all useful.
Selling a producing interest generally means the buyer would receive the future economic interest being transferred after the sale. Selling is not automatically the best decision for every owner — you are never required to sell simply because you receive an offer.
Should I sell my New Mexico mineral rights or keep the royalties?
There is no one answer that is right for every mineral owner. Keeping the minerals may allow you to continue receiving existing royalties and potentially benefit from future drilling. Selling may give you a lump sum today and remove some of the uncertainty tied to commodity prices, production declines and future development.
Owners often consider selling because they inherited minerals they do not understand, live outside New Mexico, want to divide an estate, receive very small payments, or prefer cash today. Others prefer to keep the long-term royalty potential. You may also be able to sell only part of an interest.
Can I sell only part of my mineral rights?
Often yes. Many owners sell a portion of their interest and retain the rest, which lets them raise cash while keeping exposure to future development.
What if several heirs own the minerals?
Each heir generally owns an undivided fractional share and can usually decide independently. Some families sell together, and sometimes only one heir sells. We regularly work through multi-heir situations.
Can I sell if I live outside New Mexico?
Yes. Most of the owners we speak with live in another state. Documents can usually be handled remotely with notarization.
What documents do I need?
None to get started. Deeds, royalty statements, division orders, lease copies and probate paperwork help, but the review can begin with far less.
Am I obligated to sell after submitting my information?
No. Requesting a review creates no obligation of any kind. Many owners use the review simply to understand what they own.