In Leon County, someone else may own the mineral rights under your land

In Texas, land can be split into two parts. The surface estate is everything above ground. The mineral estate is the oil, gas, and other minerals below. These two parts can be owned by different people. In Leon County, oil and gas have been produced for a long time. It is common for a buyer to get the surface but not the minerals. A past owner may have kept those rights.

Under Texas law, the mineral estate is the stronger of the two. That means someone who owns your mineral rights can come onto your land to drill, build roads, and lay pipelines. They do not need your permission. They also do not have to pay you for damage that is not their fault. If you are buying land in Leon County, read the deed carefully. Look for any past split between surface and mineral rights. The Railroad Commission of Texas controls oil and gas operations in the state. Its public website lets you look up active permits and wells by county.