Affidavit of Heirship
A sworn, recorded statement identifying a deceased owner's heirs, used to clear mineral title when no probate was ever opened.
An affidavit of heirship is a notarized statement, sworn under oath and recorded in the county deed records, that names a deceased person's heirs and describes the family history needed to establish who inherited their property. In oil and gas, it is the everyday workaround for clearing title to minerals when the owner died without a probate, which is common with interests that sat quiet for decades.
A strong affidavit is signed by one or more disinterested witnesses who knew the family but do not stand to inherit, and it states the decedent's marriages, children, and date of death. Operators and title examiners use it to update their chain of title and pay royalties to the heirs.
What it does not do is adjudicate title the way a court does. An affidavit is evidence, not a judgment, so a determined claimant can still challenge it. Some operators require two affidavits, or a stated waiting period, before they will rely on one. Treat this as general information, not legal advice.