Mineral Rights Offer Checklist

How to check a mineral rights offer letter

1. Have the letter in front of you. Use the offer letter and anything sent with it, such as a purchase agreement or a deed form.
2. Answer what the letter says. First say whether it is an offer to buy or to lease; the checklist then uses the terms for that kind of offer. For each term, choose the answer that matches the letter.
3. Read the flags. Each term is marked clear, worth a question, or missing.
4. Send your questions in writing. Copy the list of questions into a letter or email to the buyer and keep the replies with the offer.

The terms the checklist looks for

• Is the letter an offer to buy your interest or an offer to lease it? If the letter is unclear: Ask in writing whether you would be selling your interest (signing a deed) or leasing it (signing a lease). See lease offer vs. purchase offer.
• What would you be selling? If the letter is unclear: Ask exactly what the deed would convey: all minerals, royalty only, specific wells or specific depths, and whether future wells are included. See mineral deeds.
• Does the letter describe the property? If the letter is unclear: Ask for the full legal description of the land and compare it with your deed or division order. See how to find out what you own.
• Does it state how much interest the price is based on? If the letter is unclear: Ask which net acres or decimal the price is based on and how they were figured, and check them against your records. See division order decimal checker.
• How is the price expressed? If the letter is unclear: Ask for the price in writing as a total dollar amount. See how to compare mineral rights offers.
• Does it say how and when you would be paid? If the letter is unclear: Ask how and when you will be paid, and get it in writing. See questions to ask a buyer.
• Does it say who pays closing costs or fees? If the letter is unclear: Ask in writing who pays closing costs and any fees, and whether anything is deducted from the price. See questions to ask a buyer.
• Does it say who records the deed and pays to record it? If the letter is unclear: Ask who will record the deed in the county records (parish records in Louisiana) and who pays the recording fees. See mineral deeds.
• Does it say what title documents are needed and what happens if title has a problem? If the letter is unclear: Ask what documents the buyer needs to confirm title (for example, probate or heirship records) and what happens to the offer if title review finds a problem. See selling with unclear title.
• Did you get a copy of the deed you would sign? If the letter is unclear: Ask for a copy of the deed you would sign, and check what it conveys and what kind of warranty it gives. See warranty deed vs. quitclaim deed.
• Does it say who receives royalties earned before closing or held in suspense? If the letter is unclear: Ask for the effective date of the sale and who receives royalties for earlier months and any amount held in suspense. See royalty in suspense.
• Does it say how long the offer is open? If the letter is unclear: Ask how long the offer stays open, in writing. See mineral rights offer deadlines.
• Does it name the company making the offer and give a way to reach them? If the letter is unclear: Ask for the full legal name of the company that would be named in the deed or lease, and an address and phone number. See unsolicited mineral rights offers.
• Did you get a copy of the lease you would sign? If the letter is unclear: Ask for a copy of the exact lease you would sign, and read every clause before you agree. See lease offer vs. purchase offer.
• Does it state the royalty? If the letter is unclear: Ask for the royalty fraction in writing, as it would appear in the lease. See lease offer vs. purchase offer.
• Does it state how long the lease would last? If the letter is unclear: Ask for the lease term in writing, as it would appear in the lease. See lease offer vs. purchase offer.
• Does it state the bonus and how it would be paid? If the letter is unclear: Ask for the bonus per net mineral acre, the total, and how and when it would be paid, in writing. See lease offer vs. purchase offer.

What this checklist does not do

It does not judge whether a price is high, low or fair, and it does not estimate what your interest is worth. It only shows which terms your letter states and what to ask about the rest. To understand what shapes a price, see how to compare mineral rights offers.

Keep it in writing

Ask your questions in writing and keep the answers with the offer. Ask how and when you will be paid, and get it in writing. Before you sign a deed, read it, and consider having an oil and gas attorney review it.

Frequently asked questions

Machine access

Software and AI assistants can run the same computation with GET /api/v1/tools/offer-checklist (documented in the OpenAPI spec) or through the MCP tool check_offer_letter_terms at /mcp.

A checklist of terms to look for in an offer letter; not legal, tax or financial advice, and not a valuation or an opinion on any price. Consult an oil and gas attorney before you sign a deed or agreement.

Related guides

• Questions to ask any mineral rights buyer
• You got an offer letter — now what?
• Unsolicited offers
• Purchase and sale agreements
• Documents needed to sell