Close

Oil and Mineral Rights in Divorce

Family Law Attorneys for Dallas Area Residents

Although it may be common knowledge that a divorcing couple must divide marital property, many people do not consider the full scope of what that entails. For example, in addition to determining how any tangible property will be divided, the courts must determine how assets such as a couple’s oil or mineral rights will be allocated in a divorce. Oil and mineral rights are often valuable assets, and anyone seeking to end a marriage can seek legal counsel to determine how this type of property may be affected by a marital dissolution. The Dallas divorce lawyers of McClure Law Group can gather the evidence needed to assist you in seeking a fair division of assets, and will work tirelessly to help you protect your rights.

Community Property in Texas

Under Texas law, when a couple divorces all community property is subject to equitable division. Community property is the term used for property that belongs to both spouses equally. Generally, community property includes any property that either party acquired during the marriage, including income, interest on bank accounts, and oil or mineral rights. There are some exceptions, however, such as property obtained through inheritance or a gift, property specifically precluded from becoming community property via a pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement, and property awarded as damages for bodily harm in a civil lawsuit. Any property that is not considered community property is deemed separate property. This includes any property owned by either spouse prior to the marriage. It is important to note that while community property is divided equitably in a divorce, that does not always mean the division will be equal.

Determining Oil and Mineral Rights in Divorce

In Texas, real estate is comprised of surface rights and mineral rights. Surface rights include the right to control the land and everything on it, such as existing structures and the airspace directly above the land. Mineral rights, conversely, include the right to control anything underneath the surface of the land, such as oil, minerals, water, and other resources. Generally, when a person purchases real estate, the person will gain ownership of both the surface rights and mineral rights, unless the deed states otherwise. Thus, when a couple decides to divorce, they must determine the value of both their surface and mineral rights prior to determining how the value of real estate should be divided.

Determining the division of mineral rights can be complicated in cases in which a spouse or couple leases mineral rights to a third party, but a seasoned divorce attorney can help. Generally, when a party leases mineral rights, they receive a bonus upon signing of the lease and royalty and working interest payments when oil or minerals are extracted from the property. If mineral rights are owned jointly by a couple, they will be considered community property and will be subject to equitable distribution. If mineral rights are the sole property of one spouse, however, they will likely remain the property of that spouse following the divorce. Additionally, while income earned by either spouse during a marriage is generally considered community property, the Texas courts have ruled that oil royalties are not considered income, but have the same character as the land that contained the oil. As such, they are treated the same as proceeds from the sale of the land, and if the mineral rights are separate property, the royalties are separate property as well.

Talk to a Skillful Divorce Lawyer in Dallas

The division of assets such as oil and mineral rights in a divorce can be complicated, and it is important for anyone seeking a marital dissolution to speak to an attorney regarding their options. At McClure Law Group, we have ample experience helping parties fight for a just division of assets, and we will zealously argue on your behalf. We assist people in divorce lawsuits in Dallas, Richardson, Garland, Irving, Fort Worth, Rockwall, McKinney, and Frisco. We also represent parties in family law cases throughout Dallas, Denton, Grayson, Rockwall, Collin, and Tarrant Counties. You can contact us via our online form or by calling 214.692.8200 to set up a meeting.


Practice Areas
Client Reviews
★★★★★
"McClure Law Group was very professional and responsive. They listened to my concerns and desires as it pertains to the service requested and I'm very pleased." Jade Nguyen
★★★★★
"Kelly and her team are always a pleasure to work with, and their work product always exceeds one’s expectations." George Tamke
★★★★★
"When I most needed professional, good quality responses McClure Law Group was there. Thank you for the service that I have received from everyone!" Norma Charles
★★★★★
"McClure Law Group’s team is very responsive! I have very much appreciated their communication. They are always on top of what is happening and return my calls or emails quickly." Brie Cherry
★★★★★
"Kelly McClure has been representing me for the past several years and has been an amazing advocate, confidant and sounding board. She is always available by phone, even when she is on vacation. She has answered my questions on weekends and always given me an honest opinion. I highly recommend this group to anyone." Heather Bell
★★★★★
"The McClure Law Group helped me through a very difficult divorce and they definitely had my back every step of the way. I couldn’t recommend the team enough!" Shell A.
★★★★★
"I could not be happier to have had McClure Law. I truly appreciate their accessibility and patience. I can tell they are very knowledgeable, and I trust their guidance. I am SO thankful I went with great lawyers to handle my family case." Victor Lollar
★★★★★
"Kelly is detailed oriented and she truly cares about her clients. Her knowledge of the laws and her ability to get a case resolved make her stand far above others. I highly recommend McClure for your family law needs!" Peter Morgan
Contact Us
Start Chat