Texas Mineral Rights Search

Are you interested in searching for information on Texas mineral rights ownership?

Whether you’re trying to determine if you own minerals or trying to find out who the current owner of the mineral rights is, there are a number of resources that can help you.

With a little bit of research and some careful investigation, you can get a better understanding of the mineral rights situation in Texas and make more informed decisions about your property and resources.

If you own land in Texas, there’s a good chance you’ve heard about mineral rights ownership. But what exactly are they, and why are they important?

Mineral rights give you ownership of the oil, gas, and other natural resources beneath the surface of your land. These rights are often separate from the surface rights, which means someone could own the land while someone else owns what’s underneath it.

What Do Mineral Rights Include?

When you own mineral rights, you have the legal ability to:

• Lease your minerals to an oil and gas company

• Receive royalty payments from production

• Sell your mineral rights for a lump sum

• Pass those rights on to heirs

Even if your land isn’t producing oil or gas right now, your mineral rights may still be valuable. Buyers are often interested in areas with future potential, especially in active regions like the Permian Basin or Eagle Ford Shale.

Why Should You Care?

Mineral rights can provide serious financial value. If your minerals are producing, you could be earning monthly oil and gas royalties. If not, you might have the option to sell for a lump sum. Either way, it’s money tied to something you already own.

Understanding what you own is key. Many mineral owners don’t realize they have these rights, especially if they were inherited or separated from the surface long ago. That’s why searching mineral records is so important in Texas.

Know What You Own Before You Sell

If you’re thinking about selling, knowing exactly what you own helps you avoid leaving money on the table. Mineral rights with clear title and proven value attract more buyers and better offers.

That’s where we come in.

At Texas Royalty Brokers, we help you figure out what you own and what it’s worth. Then we connect you with serious buyers who are ready to pay top dollar. You don’t have to go through the process alone.  We handle the details so you can get the best deal with less stress.

One of the most confusing parts about mineral rights in Texas is figuring out who actually owns them. A lot of folks assume that if they own the land, they automatically own what’s underneath it too.

But in Texas, that’s not always the case.  In fact, it’s rarely the case with valuable mineral rights.

Surface Rights vs. Mineral Rights

In simple terms, surface rights refer to ownership of the land itself.   The trees, soil, buildings, and anything above ground.

Mineral rights refer to what lies beneath the surface, like oil, gas, and other resources.

In Texas, these two types of rights can be severed, meaning split between different owners. That’s been common practice here for over 100 years.

For example, someone could sell a piece of land but keep the mineral rights. In that case, the new landowner can farm the surface, build on it, or use it however they want.  However, they won’t have any claim to the oil or gas underneath.

How Did My Mineral Rights Get Separated?

There are a few common ways mineral rights get separated from surface rights:

• Inheritance: Mineral rights often stay in the family when land is passed down, even if the surface is sold.

• Previous land sales: A former owner may have sold the land but kept the minerals.

• Leases and sales to oil companies: Sometimes oil companies acquire mineral rights without buying the surface.

These split ownership situations can go back decades, which is why mineral records in Texas can get complicated fast.

How Do I Know What I Own?

If you inherited property, bought land without checking the deed closely, or have never looked into your mineral rights before, you may not be sure what you actually own. It’s more common than you’d think.

To find out, you’ll need to look at county records, past deeds, and possibly run a full title search. This is where hiring a landman or working with a mineral rights broker becomes really valuable. They know how to dig into the records and figure out exactly what’s yours.

Why It Matters When You’re Thinking About Selling

If you’re planning to sell your mineral rights, or even just lease them,  knowing what you own is critical. Buyers are going to do their homework, and the more clarity you have upfront, the better your offers will be.

At Texas Royalty Brokers, we help mineral owners untangle these questions every day. We work with title professionals and landmen to make sure you know what you own, and we use that information to get you the best possible sale price. You don’t have to sort through the legal paperwork on your own. We’ll help you get it right the first time.

There are a couple resources you can use to do a Texas mineral rights search.

Texas File: If you want to search deeds / property records in Texas to determine the mineral rights owner, we recommend Texas File.   Note that this is a paid service if you want to download the source deeds.   Using Texas File, you can search mineral rights in Texas and determine how the current owner of the mineral rights is.   Find the source deed where you acquired any property you own.  Then see if the deed specifies whether you own the mineral rights or if they were reserved by the previous owner.  Even if the deed does not say the minerals were reserved, it does not mean you own the mineral rights.  It’s possible the person who sold you the land did not have the minerals to deed.  You would need to search all prior deeds in connection with your land to determine if you own the mineral rights.  Check out our next section which talks about hiring a landman which may be necessary if you want 100% confirmation you own the mineral rights.

Mineral Holders:  If you want to search for a specific person and see if they own mineral rights in Texas, you can use Mineral Holders.  Mineral Holders is a good way to search Texas mineral rights owners to determine how is currently being paid for their ownership.  The records on this website are pulled from county property tax records.  They will show you who is actively receiving oil and gas royalty income.

If you’re trying to figure out what’s happening with mineral activity near your property, the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) is a great place to start. The RRC regulates the oil and gas industry in Texas and provides free public access to a ton of helpful data.

You can use their tools to:

• Look up drilling permits and well locations

• Check production data for specific wells

• See if there’s active drilling or leasing near your property

• Track which operators are working in your area

The system can be a little overwhelming if you’re not used to it, but it’s one of the most useful resources for mineral owners trying to learn more about their property or nearby activity. If you need help digging into this data, a landman or mineral rights broker can make the process a lot easier.

Helpful RRC Links for Mineral Owners

Texas Railroad Commission Main Website:
https://www.rrc.texas.gov/

RRC Online Research Queries:
https://www.rrc.texas.gov/resource-center/research/research-queries/

RRC GIS Viewer (for maps and well locations):
https://gis.rrc.texas.gov/GISViewer/

Production Data Query:
Production Data Query

Drilling Permit Query:
Drilling Permit Search

If you’re looking to buy mineral rights in Texas, you’re not alone. There’s a steady market of mineral rights investors and landowners searching for the right deal. But finding mineral rights for sale isn’t always straightforward.

Unlike real estate, you won’t find most mineral listings on the MLS or big-name property websites.

Instead, mineral rights are typically sold through private sales or brokers who specialize in oil and gas interests. Knowing where to look and how the process works can make a big difference in finding the right opportunity.

Where to Find Mineral Rights for Sale

Mineral rights are usually listed through:

• Specialized mineral brokers like Texas Royalty Brokers

• Direct outreach from mineral owners

• Online platforms that focus specifically on mineral or oil and gas royalty listings

• Private investor networks or auctions

Most high-quality mineral rights never get publicly listed. They’re sold through brokers who already have a network of serious buyers.

This is why working with a broker is one of the best ways to find real, verified deals without wasting time on outdated or questionable listings.

What to Look for in a Good Opportunity

Not all mineral rights are equal. If you’re evaluating a potential purchase, pay close attention to:

• Whether the rights are producing

• Location and proximity to active oil and gas plays

• Nearby operator activity

• Lease terms and royalty rates

• Title clarity and ownership documentation

Producing mineral rights often provide immediate income, while non-producing rights may offer upside potential down the road. It all depends on your goals and risk tolerance.

How to Buy Mineral Rights

Figuring out how to buy mineral rights can be a challenge if you are just starting.  Buying mineral rights in Texas involves a few important steps:

1. Work with a trusted broker who can help you find verified opportunities

2. Request documentation including ownership records, lease agreements, and production history

3. Analyze the deal by looking at royalty income, operator activity, and long-term value

4. Close properly using a purchase agreement and secure payment method like an escrow service

It’s not a process you want to rush. Taking the time to verify everything upfront can save you from major issues later on.

Why Buyers and Sellers Work with Texas Royalty Brokers

At Texas Royalty Brokers, we specialize in helping both buyers and sellers navigate the mineral rights market in Texas. If you’re trying to find mineral rights for sale, we can connect you with current listings that are fully documented and priced based on real market value.

We make sure the rights you’re buying come with clean title and accurate production history, so you can invest with confidence. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your portfolio, we can help you find the right deal without the stress.

If you’re trying to figure out exactly what you own, hiring a landman is often the best move. They can dig into county records, trace ownership history, and help you confirm whether you own the mineral rights, surface rights, or both. That clarity is key if you’re thinking about leasing mineral rights or selling oil and gas royalties.

And if you’ve already confirmed what you own and are considering selling, reach out to Texas Royalty Brokers. We specialize in helping mineral owners get top dollar with less hassle. We’ll walk you through the process, market your rights to serious buyers, and handle the heavy lifting so you don’t have to.

Contact us today to get started.