The data collected through a title search not only gives the owner or potential buyer peace of mind regarding the property, but also helps reduce the risk of title problems arising in the future. This makes a title search a valuable investment towards protecting an even greater investment – your home or business.

Oil, Gas, Coal and Mineral Title Search

All too often we get a call from someone thinking that they can sell or lease mineral rights to their real property when in fact they don’t own them. Obviously you can’t sell or lease something you don’t own. Ownership of surface rights does not automatically mean you have rights to the minerals below the surface. “Fee simple” means ownership of
real estate from the center of the earth to high as the heavens.

The questions always are:

1) Do you own the land in fee simple?

2) If not, do you own the minerals below the land surface?

3) Are you on the legal title? If not, are you the owner of the property by operation of law, such as by inheritance; and

4) are there any liens, such as mortgages or recorded judgments that affect your rights to the minerals?

No investor will buy or lease mineral rights until a title abstractor verifies the answer to each of these questions. Indiana Title Abstract Corporation can help provide this important information.