Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Louisiana
Inherited Oil & Gas Property
We have recently learned that my wife (adopted) is heir to a property that has been leased for oil and gas production. My question is: does my wife have rights to payment for past production (prior to discovery of heirship)? And is she bound by any lease/royalty agreements formed since she became an heir but has not signed (does she have the rights of an owner as opposed to a leassor)?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Inherited Oil & Gas Property
There are some questions I would ask to clarify a couple of points I need to know before a detailed response to your question can be given. A basic answer to your questions is that an adopted child has the same rights as a natural born child. A review of the succession would have to be done to start with, to see if there was any fraud in not listing the adopted child as an heir.