Quick answer
| Topic | What the statute says | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| First payment deadline | No statute found | — |
| Later payments | No statute found | — |
| Minimum payment and aggregation | No statute found | — |
| Interest on late payments | No statute found | — |
| Suspense and withheld payments | No statute found | — |
| Division orders | No statute found | — |
| Owner remedies, notice and attorney fees | No statute found | — |
| Check-stub disclosures | No statute found | — |
| Unclaimed royalties (escheat) | Mineral proceeds presumed abandoned after three years | AS 34.45.760(11)(A)(vii); AS 34.45.760(13)(B); AS 34.45.110(a); AS 34.45.120; AS 34.45.120(4)-(6); AS 34.45.110(b); AS 34.45.280(d); AS 34.45.280(f); AS 34.45.280(e); AS 34.45.760(5); Alaska Unclaimed Property Program home page |
We found no Alaska statute that sets a deadline for the first payment of oil and gas royalties or proceeds to private owners.
What we read: Read the official akleg.gov print view of all of AS Title 31 (Oil and Gas: ch. 05 Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Act, ch. 15 Common Purchasers of Oil, ch. 25 Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, ch. 30 Miscellaneous Provisions), every section heading and every passage that mentions royalty, proceeds, owner, pay or payment; the AOGCC regulations 20 AAC 25 in full (no mention of royalty or proceeds); all of AS Title 34 (Property) and AS Title 45 (Trade and Commerce) searched for royalty provisions (only unclaimed-property definitions, a securities exemption and copyright royalties); and AS Title 38 (Public Land), whose royalty provisions (AS 38.05.135, 38.05.180) govern royalty owed to the State as lessor. AS 31.05.110(k) only says unit production allocated to a tract is to be distributed, or its proceeds paid, to the persons entitled in the same manner as if no unit existed; it sets no deadline. Sources read: Alaska Statutes Title 31, Oil and Gas (complete title: chs. 05, 15, 25, 30), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Administrative Code 20 AAC 25, Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regulations (complete chapter), official print view; Alaska Statutes Title 34, Property (complete title, including ch. 45 Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, AS 34.45.010-34.45.780), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Statutes Title 38, Public Land (complete title, including AS 38.05.135 and 38.05.180 on royalty owed to the State), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Statutes Title 45, Trade and Commerce (complete title; searched for royalty provisions), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition.
We found no Alaska statute that sets deadlines for ongoing royalty or proceeds payments to private owners.
What we read: Same review as the first payment: AS Title 31 (Oil and Gas) in full, 20 AAC 25 in full, and AS Titles 34, 38 and 45 searched for royalty provisions. The production tax law (AS Title 43) also touches royalty settlements; that is a tax topic this page does not cover, and a CPA or tax attorney should advise on it. Sources read: Alaska Statutes Title 31, Oil and Gas (complete title: chs. 05, 15, 25, 30), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Administrative Code 20 AAC 25, Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regulations (complete chapter), official print view; Alaska Statutes Title 34, Property (complete title, including ch. 45 Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, AS 34.45.010-34.45.780), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Statutes Title 38, Public Land (complete title, including AS 38.05.135 and 38.05.180 on royalty owed to the State), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Statutes Title 45, Trade and Commerce (complete title; searched for royalty provisions), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition.
We found no Alaska statute on minimum-payment or aggregation thresholds for royalty payments to private owners.
What we read: Read the official akleg.gov print view of all of AS Title 31 (Oil and Gas: ch. 05 Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Act, ch. 15 Common Purchasers of Oil, ch. 25 Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, ch. 30 Miscellaneous Provisions), every section heading and every passage that mentions royalty, proceeds, owner, pay or payment; the AOGCC regulations 20 AAC 25 in full (no mention of royalty or proceeds); all of AS Title 34 (Property) and AS Title 45 (Trade and Commerce) searched for royalty provisions (only unclaimed-property definitions, a securities exemption and copyright royalties); and AS Title 38 (Public Land), whose royalty provisions (AS 38.05.135, 38.05.180) govern royalty owed to the State as lessor. Sources read: Alaska Statutes Title 31, Oil and Gas (complete title: chs. 05, 15, 25, 30), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Administrative Code 20 AAC 25, Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regulations (complete chapter), official print view; Alaska Statutes Title 34, Property (complete title, including ch. 45 Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, AS 34.45.010-34.45.780), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Statutes Title 38, Public Land (complete title, including AS 38.05.135 and 38.05.180 on royalty owed to the State), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Statutes Title 45, Trade and Commerce (complete title; searched for royalty provisions), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition.
We found no Alaska statute on interest for late royalty payments to private owners. The interest rule in AS 38.05.135(d) applies only to royalty owed to the State under state leases.
What we read: Read the official akleg.gov print view of all of AS Title 31 (Oil and Gas: ch. 05 Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Act, ch. 15 Common Purchasers of Oil, ch. 25 Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, ch. 30 Miscellaneous Provisions), every section heading and every passage that mentions royalty, proceeds, owner, pay or payment; the AOGCC regulations 20 AAC 25 in full (no mention of royalty or proceeds); all of AS Title 34 (Property) and AS Title 45 (Trade and Commerce) searched for royalty provisions (only unclaimed-property definitions, a securities exemption and copyright royalties); and AS Title 38 (Public Land), whose royalty provisions (AS 38.05.135, 38.05.180) govern royalty owed to the State as lessor. AS 38.05.135(d) (interest on unpaid royalty owed to the State) was read and excluded because it covers only state leases. Sources read: Alaska Statutes Title 31, Oil and Gas (complete title: chs. 05, 15, 25, 30), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Administrative Code 20 AAC 25, Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regulations (complete chapter), official print view; Alaska Statutes Title 34, Property (complete title, including ch. 45 Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, AS 34.45.010-34.45.780), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Statutes Title 38, Public Land (complete title, including AS 38.05.135 and 38.05.180 on royalty owed to the State), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Statutes Title 45, Trade and Commerce (complete title; searched for royalty provisions), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition.
We found no Alaska statute that governs when a payor may suspend or withhold royalty payments to private owners, or interest on suspended funds.
What we read: Read the official akleg.gov print view of all of AS Title 31 (Oil and Gas: ch. 05 Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Act, ch. 15 Common Purchasers of Oil, ch. 25 Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, ch. 30 Miscellaneous Provisions), every section heading and every passage that mentions royalty, proceeds, owner, pay or payment; the AOGCC regulations 20 AAC 25 in full (no mention of royalty or proceeds); all of AS Title 34 (Property) and AS Title 45 (Trade and Commerce) searched for royalty provisions (only unclaimed-property definitions, a securities exemption and copyright royalties); and AS Title 38 (Public Land), whose royalty provisions (AS 38.05.135, 38.05.180) govern royalty owed to the State as lessor. Sources read: Alaska Statutes Title 31, Oil and Gas (complete title: chs. 05, 15, 25, 30), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Administrative Code 20 AAC 25, Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regulations (complete chapter), official print view; Alaska Statutes Title 34, Property (complete title, including ch. 45 Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, AS 34.45.010-34.45.780), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Statutes Title 38, Public Land (complete title, including AS 38.05.135 and 38.05.180 on royalty owed to the State), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Statutes Title 45, Trade and Commerce (complete title; searched for royalty provisions), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition.
We found no Alaska division-order statute.
What we read: Read the official akleg.gov print view of all of AS Title 31 (Oil and Gas: ch. 05 Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Act, ch. 15 Common Purchasers of Oil, ch. 25 Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, ch. 30 Miscellaneous Provisions), every section heading and every passage that mentions royalty, proceeds, owner, pay or payment; the AOGCC regulations 20 AAC 25 in full (no mention of royalty or proceeds); all of AS Title 34 (Property) and AS Title 45 (Trade and Commerce) searched for royalty provisions (only unclaimed-property definitions, a securities exemption and copyright royalties); and AS Title 38 (Public Land), whose royalty provisions (AS 38.05.135, 38.05.180) govern royalty owed to the State as lessor. The phrase 'division order' does not appear in Title 31, Title 34, Title 38, Title 45 or 20 AAC 25. Sources read: Alaska Statutes Title 31, Oil and Gas (complete title: chs. 05, 15, 25, 30), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Administrative Code 20 AAC 25, Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regulations (complete chapter), official print view; Alaska Statutes Title 34, Property (complete title, including ch. 45 Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, AS 34.45.010-34.45.780), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Statutes Title 38, Public Land (complete title, including AS 38.05.135 and 38.05.180 on royalty owed to the State), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Statutes Title 45, Trade and Commerce (complete title; searched for royalty provisions), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition.
We found no Alaska statute that gives private royalty owners a specific notice, cure, penalty or attorney-fee remedy for late or missing payments.
What we read: Read the official akleg.gov print view of all of AS Title 31 (Oil and Gas: ch. 05 Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Act, ch. 15 Common Purchasers of Oil, ch. 25 Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, ch. 30 Miscellaneous Provisions), every section heading and every passage that mentions royalty, proceeds, owner, pay or payment; the AOGCC regulations 20 AAC 25 in full (no mention of royalty or proceeds); all of AS Title 34 (Property) and AS Title 45 (Trade and Commerce) searched for royalty provisions (only unclaimed-property definitions, a securities exemption and copyright royalties); and AS Title 38 (Public Land), whose royalty provisions (AS 38.05.135, 38.05.180) govern royalty owed to the State as lessor. Sources read: Alaska Statutes Title 31, Oil and Gas (complete title: chs. 05, 15, 25, 30), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Administrative Code 20 AAC 25, Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regulations (complete chapter), official print view; Alaska Statutes Title 34, Property (complete title, including ch. 45 Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, AS 34.45.010-34.45.780), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Statutes Title 38, Public Land (complete title, including AS 38.05.135 and 38.05.180 on royalty owed to the State), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Statutes Title 45, Trade and Commerce (complete title; searched for royalty provisions), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition.
We found no Alaska statute that requires specific information on royalty check stubs or payment statements to private owners.
What we read: Read the official akleg.gov print view of all of AS Title 31 (Oil and Gas: ch. 05 Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Act, ch. 15 Common Purchasers of Oil, ch. 25 Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, ch. 30 Miscellaneous Provisions), every section heading and every passage that mentions royalty, proceeds, owner, pay or payment; the AOGCC regulations 20 AAC 25 in full (no mention of royalty or proceeds); all of AS Title 34 (Property) and AS Title 45 (Trade and Commerce) searched for royalty provisions (only unclaimed-property definitions, a securities exemption and copyright royalties); and AS Title 38 (Public Land), whose royalty provisions (AS 38.05.135, 38.05.180) govern royalty owed to the State as lessor. Sources read: Alaska Statutes Title 31, Oil and Gas (complete title: chs. 05, 15, 25, 30), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Administrative Code 20 AAC 25, Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regulations (complete chapter), official print view; Alaska Statutes Title 34, Property (complete title, including ch. 45 Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, AS 34.45.010-34.45.780), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Statutes Title 38, Public Land (complete title, including AS 38.05.135 and 38.05.180 on royalty owed to the State), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition; Alaska Statutes Title 45, Trade and Commerce (complete title; searched for royalty provisions), official print view, Alaska Statutes 2025 edition.
Alaska's Uniform Unclaimed Property Act treats amounts due and payable as mineral proceeds, including royalties and overriding royalties, as intangible property. It has no separate dormancy period for mineral proceeds, and property is subject to Alaska's custody only when AS 34.45.120's conditions are also met (for example, the owner's last known address on the holder's records is in Alaska, or, with no address or an address in a state or nation that does not take the property, the holder is an Alaska domiciliary or government holder); its general rule covers intangible property unclaimed for more than three years after it became payable or distributable is presumed abandoned. A holder whose presumed-abandoned intangible property for the year totals more than $750 (counting unreported property from prior years) reports by November 1 for property held as of June 30, and before filing must notify an apparent owner when it has an address it believes accurate, the claim is not time-barred and the property is worth $100 or more. The Department of Revenue administers the program.
Intangible property includes amounts due and payable as mineral proceeds. (AS 34.45.760(11)(A)(vii))
Statute text “(vii) amounts due and payable as mineral proceeds;”
Mineral proceeds include amounts payable for the extraction, production or sale of minerals, including net revenue interests, royalties, overriding royalties, extraction payments and production payments. (AS 34.45.760(13)(B))
Statute text “(B) for the extraction, production, or sale of minerals, including net revenue interests, royalties, overriding royalties, extraction payments, and production payments;”
Intangible property unclaimed for more than three years after becoming payable or distributable is presumed abandoned, unless another section of the Act provides otherwise. (AS 34.45.110(a))
Statute text “Except as otherwise provided in AS 34.45.120 — 34.45.780, all intangible property, including income or increment derived from the property, less lawful charges, that is held, issued, or owing in the ordinary course of a holder's business and has remained unclaimed by the owner for more than three years after becoming payable or distributable is presumed abandoned.”
Intangible property presumed abandoned is subject to Alaska's custody only if one of AS 34.45.120's conditions is met, beginning with: the owner's last known address on the holder's records is in Alaska; the holder's records do not show the owner's identity and the last known address is established to be in Alaska; or the holder's records do not show the owner's last known address and either that address is established to be in Alaska or the holder is an Alaska domiciliary or government holder that has not already paid the property to the state of the owner's last known address. (AS 34.45.120)
Statute text “Unless otherwise provided in this chapter or by another statute of the state, intangible property is subject to the custody of the state as unclaimed property if the conditions raising a presumption of abandonment under AS 34.45.110 or 34.45.140 — 34.45.260 are satisfied and (1) the last known address of the apparent owner, as shown on the records of the holder, is in the state; (2) the records of the holder do not reflect the identity of the person entitled to the property and it is established that the last known address of the person entitled to the property is in the state; (3) the records of the holder do not reflect the last known address of the apparent owner, and it is established that (A) the last known address of the person entitled to the property is in the state, or (B) the holder is a domiciliary or a government or governmental subdivision or agency, including a municipality, of the state and has not previously paid or delivered the property to the state of the last known address of the apparent owner or other person entitled to the property;”
Further cases cover an owner address in a state that does not take the property or in a foreign nation (with an Alaska domiciliary or government holder), and a transaction in Alaska where the owner's address is unknown or in such a state and the holder is domiciled in such a state. (AS 34.45.120(4)-(6))
Statute text “(4) the last known address of the apparent owner, as shown on the records of the holder, is in a state that either does not provide by law for the escheat or custodial taking of the property, or its escheat or unclaimed property law is not applicable to the property, and the holder is a domiciliary, government, or governmental subdivision or agency, including a municipality, of the state; (5) the last known address of the apparent owner, as shown on the records of the holder, is in a foreign nation and the holder is a domiciliary, government, or governmental subdivision, including a municipality, or agency of the state; or (6) the transaction out of which the property arose occurred in the state and (A) the last known address of the apparent owner or other person entitled to the property is unknown, or the last known address of the apparent owner or other person entitled to the property is in a state that either does not provide by law for the escheat or custodial taking of the property or its escheat or unclaimed property law does not apply to the property, and (B) the holder is a domiciliary of a state that either does not provide by law for the escheat or custodial taking of the property or its escheat or unclaimed property law does not apply to the property.”
Property counts as payable or distributable even if the owner did not demand it or present a document required to receive payment. (AS 34.45.110(b))
Statute text “Property is payable or distributable for the purposes of AS 34.45.120 — 34.45.780 even if the owner failed to demand the property or to present an instrument or document required to receive payment of the property.”
A holder subject to AS 34.45.280 files its report before November 1 each year for unclaimed property held as of June 30. (AS 34.45.280(d))
Statute text “The report required under (a) of this section shall be filed before November 1 of each year for unclaimed property held as of June 30 of that year.”
Section 34.45.280's reporting requirements apply to a holder of intangible property with a total aggregate value greater than $750 presumed abandoned during the year preceding June 30, counting unreported property from prior years. (AS 34.45.280(f))
Statute text “(f) The requirements of this section apply to the holder of intangible property with a total aggregate value greater than $750 that is presumed abandoned under AS 34.45.110 — 34.45.780 during the year preceding June 30 of each year. For purposes of determining total aggregate value under this subsection, the holder shall include all intangible property from prior years that was not reported under AS 34.45.110 — 34.45.780.”
Not more than 120 days before filing its report, the holder must send written notice to the apparent owner at the owner's last known address, but only if the holder has an address it believes accurate, the owner's claim is not barred by the statute of limitations, and the property is worth $100 or more. (AS 34.45.280(e))
Statute text “Not more than 120 days before filing the report required by this section, the holder in possession of property presumed abandoned and subject to custody as unclaimed property under AS 34.45.110 — 34.45.430 shall send written notice to the apparent owner at the owner's last known address informing the owner that the holder is in possession of property subject to this chapter if (1) the holder has in its records an address for the apparent owner that the holder believes to be accurate; (2) the claim of the apparent owner is not barred by the statute of limitations; and (3) the property has a value of $100 or more.”
The administering department is the Department of Revenue. (AS 34.45.760(5))
Statute text “(5) “department” means the Department of Revenue;”
The State of Alaska runs an online unclaimed property program for owner searches and claims. (Alaska Unclaimed Property Program home page)
Statute text “Welcome to the State of Alaska's Unclaimed Property Website. Our mission is to collect and safeguard unclaimed property and to reunite owners with their lost and misplaced property.”
Official unclaimed property search: Alaska Unclaimed Property Program (Department of Revenue).
We found no Alaska statute that sets a deadline for the first payment of oil and gas royalties or proceeds to private owners.
We found no Alaska statute that sets deadlines for ongoing royalty or proceeds payments to private owners.
We found no Alaska statute on minimum-payment or aggregation thresholds for royalty payments to private owners.
We found no Alaska statute on interest for late royalty payments to private owners. The interest rule in AS 38.05.135(d) applies only to royalty owed to the State under state leases.
We found no Alaska statute that governs when a payor may suspend or withhold royalty payments to private owners, or interest on suspended funds.
We found no Alaska division-order statute.
We found no Alaska statute that gives private royalty owners a specific notice, cure, penalty or attorney-fee remedy for late or missing payments.
We found no Alaska statute that requires specific information on royalty check stubs or payment statements to private owners.
Alaska's Uniform Unclaimed Property Act treats amounts due and payable as mineral proceeds, including royalties and overriding royalties, as intangible property. It has no separate dormancy period for mineral proceeds, and property is subject to Alaska's custody only when AS 34.45.120's conditions are also met (for example, the owner's last known address on the holder's records is in Alaska, or, with no address or an address in a state or nation that does not take the property, the holder is an Alaska domiciliary or government holder); its general rule covers intangible property unclaimed for more than three years after it became payable or distributable is presumed abandoned. A holder whose presumed-abandoned intangible property for the year totals more than $750 (counting unreported property from prior years) reports by November 1 for property held as of June 30, and before filing must notify an apparent owner when it has an address it believes accurate, the claim is not time-barred and the property is worth $100 or more. The Department of Revenue administers the program. (AS 34.45.760(11)(A)(vii); AS 34.45.760(13)(B); AS 34.45.110(a); AS 34.45.120; AS 34.45.120(4)-(6); AS 34.45.110(b); AS 34.45.280(d); AS 34.45.280(f); AS 34.45.280(e); AS 34.45.760(5); Alaska Unclaimed Property Program home page)
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Educational only — not legal advice; statutes change, so confirm the current version and consult a qualified attorney for your situation. For a question about a specific payment, consult an attorney licensed in Alaska.
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