Park v. Ouachita Baptist University of Arkadelphia

MEMORANDUM OPINION

CARL B. JONES, Judge:

This appeal involves primarily a legal question: whether unpaid bonus money to be paid to a lessor of an oil and gas “top lease” is, after the death of the lessor, a debt owed to the lessor’s estate, or still a part of the mineral estate. The trial court determined that it was part of the mineral estate and under the facts of the case, we agree.

The trial below was to the court and the facts were, for the most part, undisputed. Appellant’s decedent, P.G. Parks, owned certain mineral interests in Oklahoma. In August, 1989, Parks gave oil and gas top leases…