Why hire an attorney ?

Greetings fellow property owners,

    There are four people in my family; my Mom, brother, sister, and myself that signed a lease with CHK almost three years ago. We have a complicated title and lease situation because my Mom is the life tenant and the three siblings are remainder man.

        We were fortunate enough at the beginning of this journey to use a lease from a landowners group that hired an attorney to draw up amendments to the lease. A cursory review by my Mom's estate attorney advised us the lease was a "good lease". We had to sign some other documents to set up the payments into 1/4 each, which we all agreed to.  Lease bonus payments were made in the expected fashion - 1/4 payment each.

      Since then we've been struggling with two different points of view in my family and we cannot come to a consensus to hire an attorney or not to help us with all the issues.

     We've had to deal with two rights of way issues along the way and now royalties are starting to be paid and there's other documents that contain legal wording that's hard to interpret. There have been some hiccups on the CHK side when they paid royalties due to documentation issues on the CHK end.

      We're in contact with someone at CHK that has been helpful but at times, in emails, has sent us conflicting and unclear information.

      One of my family members believe we should sign these latest forms because the person at CHK likeable and has done allot for our family.

      Everything possible has been done to present a case why an attorney is needed to handle our complicated issues, by we cannot reach an agreement.

      I'm hoping people on this forum will present some of their stories or recommendations.

 

Thanks,

 

 

     

      

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by rob grant on November 17, 2013 at 10:00am

  Hi , The fact that you all can not agree should be enough reason to seek out a natural gas rights attorney,period.    rob grant

Permalink Reply by Bob Byler on November 17, 2013 at 10:07am
The saying, "anyone who represents themselves has a fool for a client," comes to mind. After blindly "going it alone" because we were "so knowledgable" we were forced to get an attorney. Cost us a few thousand but gained us tens of thousands!
015334grltd9mPermalink Reply by 015334grltd9m on November 17, 2013 at 11:46am

Huh! ..............Man You people need to run to an Atty.

Permalink Reply by JK on November 17, 2013 at 12:08pm

Kim,

When dealing with CHK or any gas company, you must have an O&G attorney review all documents from the start.

Even if you think you all know all the facts to cover yourselves.

It has been stated hundreds of times here on GMS about how you must protect yourselves.

It could cost you more money if you don't.

Permalink Reply by Jim Litwinowicz on November 17, 2013 at 2:36pm

Most certainly get an attorney, no matter how "nice" CHK people may be.  They are trained to be nice, to gain your confidence. They are taught little things to do and say to that end. 

And if any document is so convoluted or written with such legalese that there is a difference in interpretation , then that is a huge warning flag. In these documents, the meaning can be changed by one word, one letter, or even a punctuation point.

By all means get a good, qualified, experienced attorney.

0i7okn54zwbdoPermalink Reply by 0i7okn54zwbdo on November 18, 2013 at 3:22am

"my family...signed a lease with CHK"

That's why you hire an attorney.  All of the interconnected family stuff is reason enough, but lately CHK has seemingly found new ways to drive landowners crazy and dealing with them on any level almost necessitates legal representation.  

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