Indiana § 32-23-13-7 Court determinations; trustee appointment

Indiana Statutes

§ 32-23-13-7 — Court determinations; trustee appointment

Indiana § 32-23-13-7

Title 32PROPERTY

Art. 23CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY INTERESTS

Ch. 13Mineral Estates of Unknown or Missing Owners

This text of Indiana § 32-23-13-7 (Court determinations; trustee appointment) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Ind. Code § 32-23-13-7 (2026).

Text

(a)The court shall receive evidence and hear testimony concerning:

(1)the matters in the adjacent mineral producer's petition; and

(2)the prevailing terms of similar mineral leases of the type sought by the petitioner obtained in the vicinity of the land in the petition, including the length of the lease term, bonus money, delay rentals, royalty rates, and other forms of lease payments.

(b)If the court determines that the material allegations of the petition are true and that there has been compliance with the required notice provisions, the court:

(1)shall enter an order determining the interest of each respondent in the mineral interest sought to be leased; and

(2)may:

(A)declare a trust in the mineral interest of the unknown or missing owner;

(B)appoint, without a bond, a truste

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(a) The court shall receive evidence and hear
testimony concerning:
(1) the matters in the adjacent mineral producer's petition; and
(2) the prevailing terms of similar mineral leases of the type
sought by the petitioner obtained in the vicinity of the land in the
petition, including the length of the lease term, bonus money,
delay rentals, royalty rates, and other forms of lease payments.
(b) If the court determines that the material allegations of the
petition are true and that there has been compliance with the required
notice provisions, the court:
(1) shall enter an order determining the interest of each
respondent in the mineral interest sought to be leased; and
(2) may:
(A) declare a trust in the mineral interest of the unknown or
missing owner;
(B) appoint, without a bond, a trustee for the unknown or
missing owner; and
(C) authorize the trustee to execute a valid mineral lease:
(i) with the adjacent mineral producer concerning the type of
mineral developed by the adjacent mineral producer on the
mineral interest of the unknown or missing owner; and
(ii) on terms and conditions approved by the court.
(c) The court's judgment appointing a trustee and authorizing the
execution of a lease must specify the minimum terms that may be
accepted by the trustee. The terms must be substantially consistent with
the terms of other similar mineral leases obtained in the vicinity as
determined by the court.
(d) The court shall determine a reasonable fee to be paid to the
trustee. The trustee's fee, including reasonable attorney's fees and costs
of the proceeding, shall be paid by the adjacent mineral producer
petitioner. Any other court costs related to the proceedings under this
chapter shall be paid by the petitioner. However, each party shall pay
its costs associated with issues arising under section 8 of this chapter.
(e) If a trustee:
(1) dies or resigns; or
(2) refuses or is unable to act;
the court, upon the court's motion or the motion of the petitioner, shall
appoint a successor trustee.