The following are common issues that result in a transfer of ownership. For changes to owner’s account information such as a name or address change please see the Updating Owner Account Info page of our website. For more information on transferring interest, please see below and forward the requested documentation to:
White Oak Operating Co., L.L.C.
Land Department
16945 Northchase Dr., Suite 1700
Houston, Texas 77060
Or fax it to (281) 876-2265
Sale of an interest
Submit a copy of Conveyance Instrument as filed for record in the county or parish where the property is located.
Change in ownership due to a divorce
Submit a complete Divorce Decree including any conveyances made and filed of record in the appropriate county/parish where the property is located.
Transfer of ownership to a trust
Submit a copy of Trust Agreement or Memorandum of Trust along with recorded conveyance that has been filed of record in the appropriate county/parish where the property is located.
Change in ownership due to death of the owner
If the decedent had a Will and probate is being conducted, please submit:
- Copy of death certificate
- Copy of Last Will and Testament (recorded in county where property is located)
- Copy of Order Admitting Will to Probate (recorded in county where property is located)
- Copy of Letters Testamentary
- W-9 Form completed by devisees
- If the decedent died without a Will (intestate) or the Will is not being probated, please submit:
- Copy of death certificate
- Copy of an Affidavit of Heirship (see instructions below)
- W-9 Form completed by heirs
Instructions for heirship affidavit
If someone dies without a will, or if the will is not probated and the estate is small, an Affidavit of Heirship by one or two disinterested persons acquainted with the decedent can provide facts about marital history, children’s names and ages, payment of debts and taxes and other estate facts. The Affidavit is a sworn statement and will be used to determine the transfer of interest according to descent and distribution laws for the state the property is located in. Please see the Important forms page for an Affidavit of Heirship form.
Upon completion, the Affidavit should be signed in the presence of a notary and filed for record in the county/parish and state in which the interest is located.
When you receive the certified copy of the Affidavit from the clerk, please forward a copy of the certified instrument, along with a copy of the certified death certificate of the descendent, to this office. Upon receipt, the interest will be transferred by the laws of descent and distribution for the state where the property is located and Division Orders will be issued to the new owners.