Colorado is a unique climate when it comes to mineral interests and ownership. In most states the property owner of the surface land owns all of the land below the surface as well; however, in Colorado this may not be the case. Colorado permits the separation of the surface estate from the mineral estate, allowing for a fee simple ownership interest in only the minerals on the property, which can become an issue to the surface estate holder when the mineral estate holder wants to perform exploration or extraction.
As either a surface owner or mineral estate owner you need to know what your property rights are and what your ownership interests are.
I can help you determine whether the surface estate has been severed from the mineral estate, as well as assist with drafting and negotiating land leases, oil and gas leases, surface rights agreements, royalty agreements and title opinions.
