Purchasers of real property secure title insurance to protect themselves against adverse claims to their land. Because mineral rights can be leased or deeded separate from the surface estate of the property, such rights can create an interest adverse to the property owner. Texas title companies and owners have been struggling with how to address mineral interests in title insurance since the recent resurgence of mineral development in Texas. Finally, the Texas government has settled the dispute.
On August 12, 2009 the Texas Department of Insurance adopted Order No. 09-0650 which introduced certain changes to the Basic Manual of Laws, Rates and Forms for the Writing of Title Insurance in the State of Texas. In doing so, the order significantly affects the way title companies and property owners address issues involving mineral rights in Texas title policies.
New Rule – Excepting to Minerals
First, the order creates a new procedural rule, Rule P-5.1, which permits title companies to generally except to insuring mineral rights in Texas title policies. It should be noted that when referring to mineral rights in the context of P-5.1, the term “minerals” includes “coal, lignite, oil, gas and all other minerals in, under and that may be produced from the land together with all rights, privileges and immunities relating thereto.”
P-5.1 permits a title company to except minerals from coverage of a title policy in two ways. First, a title company may specifically exclude minerals from the description of the insured estate in Schedule A, Item 2 of the policy. Also, P-5.1 allows a title company to generally except to minerals in Schedule B as a separate and distinct title exception, in addition to any mineral leases or severed mineral rights specifically listed in Schedule B of the policy.
Given the broad definition used for the description of “minerals” under P-5.1, landowners are exposed to significant risks which may arise from the future development of minerals which have either been leased to third parties or severed from the surface estate. However, while the title to minerals and related rights can be excepted from title coverage, a land purchaser can receive title protection for the improvements existing on, or to be built on, such land through endorsements.
New Endorsements Available.
Procedural rule P-5.1 requires title companies, upon request by the insured, to issue one or more applicable endorsements as provided in procedural rule P-50.1. Procedural rule P-50.1 introduces two new title endorsements that insure minerals otherwise excepted in the policy. These endorsements operate similarly, but are applicable in different situations.
The T-19.2 endorsement, titled “Minerals and Surface Damage Endorsement,” is available for real property of one acre or less, whether currently or intended to be improved for use as a one-to-four family residential property. The T-19.2 endorsement is also available for real property improved or intended to be improved for office, industrial, retail, mixeduse retail/residential or multifamily purposes. Any other type of real property not specifically permitted coverage under T-19.2 is eligible for the T-19.3 endorsement, also titled “Minerals and Surface Damage Endorsement.”
The two endorsements generally provide the same coverage. Each endorsement insures against loss by reason of damage to improvements resulting from the exercise of a right to use the surface of the land for the extraction or development of minerals. One notable feature of both endorsements is that they protect against damage to improvements existing not only as of the date of the policy, but also those improvements added to the property in the future. However, any mineral interest causing the damage to improvements must exist as of the date of the policy and be specifically excepted to in either Schedule A, Item 2, or in Schedule B. Notably, there is one minor difference between the T-19.2 and T-19.3 endorsements. While the T-19.2 generally protects against damage to all improvements (excluding only lawns, shrubbery or trees), the T-19.3 protects only against damage to permanent buildings. Therefore, any improvements that are not permanent buildings would receive protection only under the T-19.2. Each
endorsement requires the payment of a $50.00 premium.
Potential Cost Savings for the Insured
Prior to availability of the T-19.2 and T-19.3 endorsements, owners relied upon the T-19.1 endorsement for protection against any mineral exceptions. The mineral protections in the T-19.1 endorsement reflect those provided in the T-19.2. However, the T-19.1 endorsement provides additional protections beyond minerals, and in certain situations, those protections could exceed the needs for the specific property. Generally, if the insured property is unimproved and no applicable covenants or conditions are listed in the title commitment, a T-19.1 endorsement may not be the most cost effective method of mineral insurance. Since the title premium for the T-19.1 endorsement on nonresidential property is either 10% or 15% of the basic rate for a single issue policy, the cost of the T-19.1 would far exceed the $50.00 cost of a T-19.2 or T-19.3 endorsement.
Conclusion
Beginning November 1, 2009, title companies will begin generally excepting to minerals and all rights related to those minerals in Texas title policies. The new endorsements provided by procedural rule P-50.1 will be necessary to protect property owners from the risk of development of minerals on their properties.
By Brian H. Baker and Jeffrey J. Porter