Property Ownership

What is a 'mineral rights' reservation in a Delaware deed?

AThe seller retaining the right to remove personal property from the home before closing
BThe grantor retaining ownership of subsurface mineral resources (oil, gas, coal, minerals) while conveying the surface rights to the grantee — splitting the estate✓ Correct
CThe government's right to mine beneath private property without compensation
DA restriction prohibiting the installation of minerals in landscaping

Explanation

Mineral rights can be severed from surface rights. When a deed contains a mineral rights reservation, the grantor keeps ownership of subsurface resources while conveying the surface. The mineral rights owner (or their lessee) may have the right to access and extract minerals, potentially affecting the surface owner. Buyers should review deeds carefully for mineral reservations.

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