Tax Bill-"except oil & gas"

Check your property tax bill, under the description of property does it now say "except oil & gas"?  Mine does.  When we called courthouse to question this, we were told that on 6-24-14 Rutledge Coal Co filed "a split" asserting that they own the oil and gas mineral rights instead of the property owners.  In 2011 we leased with Chesapeake, who title searched, verifying our assertion that we  own our mineral rights, as did a local Tusc Co Oil & Gas atty. We have received no paperwork from Rutledge. Anyone have information about this?

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Permalink Reply by Frank Walker on February 12, 2015 at 8:59am

Helen:

You don't give us your state so I will assume you are in Ohio.  But regardless where you are, read your lease really carefully.  I hope you have a provision therein stating you do not warranty title to your minerals.  Without such a provision, and if you already have collected bonus or royalty money or both, and given your title to the minerals is now contested, Chesapeake could come after you for return of any payments already made to you.  That would not be fun.

Beyond that, I would try to learn whether Rutledge has also pulled this stunt on your neighbors.  If Rutledge has, a group response might be cheaper for all of you than contesting this with Rutledge individually.  Because, either way, you appear to have a fight on your hands.  I wish you best of luck.

 

Permalink Reply by Helen Leeper on February 12, 2015 at 10:09am

One neighbor is experiencing the same issue from the same source.  I am currently  checking with other neighbors.

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