MS HB601

Mineral estate title reverts to surface estate owner after a continuous or interrupted ten-year period of surface ownership, effective July 1, 2010.

Surface estate owner must file a statement of claim with the county chancery clerk after the ten-year period elapses to effectuate redemption of the mineral estate.

Surface estate owner must notify the mineral estate owner by personal service if reasonably located, or by three consecutive weeks of newspaper publication if not found, with mailed notice within ten days of first publication.

Mineral estate may be redeemed by the surface estate owner within thirty days after personal service or last publication, with the chancery clerk recording the redemption and noting it on the original mineral estate instrument.

If the ten-year ownership period is interrupted with fewer than 180 days remaining, the period shall not expire less than 180 days after it resumes.