Nickelson v. Bell

Arnold-Burger, J.:

Generally, any interest in mineral rights will lapse and revert to the surface owner of the property if it remains unused for 20 years. K.S.A. 551602. The owner of an unused mineral interest may prevent tire lapse by filing a claim as set out in K.S.A. 55-1604. When surface landowners Ronald and Betty Nick-elson (Nickelsons) sought to quiet title to unused mineral rights on their land, several people filed claims under K.S.A. 55-1604. Because some of these people maintained ownership through intestate succession, without any judicial determination regarding their acquisition…