Chain of Title
The unbroken sequence of ownership transfers for a tract, from the original grant to the present owner, proving who owns the minerals.
The chain of title is the documented sequence of ownership transfers for a property, running from the original grant down to the current owner. Each link is a recorded instrument — a deed, a will, a mineral conveyance — that passes title from one party to the next. An unbroken chain proves who owns the minerals today.
A gap or conflict in the chain is a title defect, and defects kill deals. A missing heir, an unreleased lien, or a deed that was never recorded all break the chain and have to be cured before a clean purchase. This is why the chain is built carefully from a runsheet of county records.
Verifying the chain protects you from buying minerals the seller does not fully own. See our title search guide, and consult an oil and gas attorney for any serious defect.