# Mother Hubbard Clause Explained
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> A Mother Hubbard (cover-all) clause sweeps small strips and adjacent land the lease description misses into the lease — what it does and why owners read it.

**URL:** https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mother-hubbard-clause
**Source:** Buckhead Energy (https://www.buckheadenergy.com/)
**Generated:** 2026-08-20 (heuristic; server-side extraction)

## Answer
A Mother Hubbard clause — also called a cover-all or catch-all clause — is oil-and-gas lease language that automatically includes small, unleased strips or adjacent parcels the formal legal description accidentally omits, so the operator's lease covers all of the lessor's contiguous land in the immediate area. Frequently asked questions What is a Mother Hubbard clause? A cover-all or catch-all clause in an oil and gas lease that automatically includes small strips or adjacent parcels the formal legal description misses, so the lease covers all of the lessor's contiguous land in the area. Why is it called a Mother Hubbard clause? The name is an informal industry term — evoking the nursery rhyme's cupboard — for a clause meant to sweep in everything, curing survey gaps and small unleased strips the description leaves out. Should I agree to a cover-all clause in my lease? Many owners narrow it rather than delete it — capping the extra acreage it can capture or excluding adjacent parcels they want to lease separately — since a broad version can pull more land into the lease at the same terms. Have an attorney review it; this is not legal advice. Does a Mother Hubbard clause expand or limit my lease? It expands it, by covering small strips and adjacent land the description omits. That contrasts with a Pugh clause, which limits a lease by releasing undeveloped acreage after the primary term. Does Buckhead Energy buy mineral and royalty interests? Yes — Buckhead Energy is a direct buyer of mineral, royalty, NPRI, and ORRI interests across the United States, producing or non-producing. Buckhead Energy makes a free written offer, pays the title and closing costs, and charges no broker commission.

## Page Outline
- The Mother Hubbard Clause in an Oil & Gas Lease
  - What the clause does
  - Why operators include it
  - Why owners should read it carefully
  - The Mother Hubbard clause and other lease clauses
  - Related reading
  - Frequently asked questions
  - Ready to Sell Your Mineral Rights?

## Related Pages
- [Oil & gas lease clauses](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/oil-and-gas-clauses)
- [Pugh clause explained](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/pugh-clause-explained)
- [Oil & gas lease terms](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/oil-gas-lease-terms)
- [What is a good lease royalty?](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/good-lease-royalty-rate)
- [Get a free written offer](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell)

## About Buckhead Energy
Buckhead Energy is a direct buyer of oil & gas mineral rights and royalty interests across 33 U.S. states. We provide free written offers within 24-48 hours, with closings in 30-45 days. Family-owned and operated since 2007, A+ BBB rated.

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