Office of Mineral Resources

Leasing Manual

How to Acquire a Mineral Lease on State and State Agency Lands and Water Bottoms in the State of Louisiana

Step 9: Issuance and Execution of State and State Agency Mineral Lease Contracts after the State Mineral Lease Sale

Upon receipt of the lease packet via certified mail, the mineral lessee has twenty (20) days from the date on the certified mail receipt or, if no date is affixed thereon, from the date the Office of Mineral Resources receives the certified mail receipt, to return one (1) fully executed original lease contract and the recordation information from each parish wherein the lease is recorded to the Office of Mineral Resources. Failure to return one (1) fully executed original lease contract and the recordation information from each parish wherein the lease is recorded to the Office of Mineral Resources within twenty (20) days may result in forfeiture of the lease including the cash payment and Ten Percent (10%) Leasing Fee.

Note:  The official state and state agency mineral lease forms require that the lessee execute the lease in front of the legally required number of witnesses and that the appropriate witness form of acknowledgement be completed and notarized according to law. LSA-R.S. 35:12(D) provides:  “On all documents notarized on and after January 1, 2005, the office of notarial records, register of conveyances, or recorder of mortgages in and for the parish of Orleans, every clerk of court, and every state office, agency, department, or political subdivision shall not accept, file, or record any notarized document which fails to contain the notary identification or bar roll number and the typed or printed name of the notary and the witnesses.”