How to find an AAPL Landman

Learn what AAPL landmen do, how they can help mineral owners,
and how to find one.

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What can a AAPL landman help me with?

Most landmen work for oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) companies, performing title work or negotiating with mineral owners to acquire leases prior to drilling a well. There are also independent landmen who do shorter-term work for probate attorneys, trustees, and individual mineral owners.

Many mineral owners will need the assistance of a landman or an oil and gas attorney at some point.

Landmen typically help mineral owners figure out what they own, transfer ownership after death, estimate the value of their mineral rights, negotiate oil and gas leases, and cure the title to get into pay status.

An AAPL landman can help with an affidavit of heirship, which is often required to transfer the ownership of mineral rights from one person to another.

Very often, new mineral owners do not know exactly what they have inherited. A landman can do an extensive title search to figure out what you (and your family) own.

An AAPL landman can help you estimate the value of your mineral rights. Depending on how much you own, this might be an experienced-based estimate or the landman may recommend a mineral rights appraiser for a precise valuation.

A landman can help you get into pay status on producing oil and gas wells by performing curative work on the title.

Having an attorney and/or landman negotiate an oil and gas lease on your behalf is usually well worth the extra expense. Attorneys may be better for the prcice language and a landman may be better at coming to mutually agreeable terms.

How to Find an AAPL Landman

Most landmen are certified through the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL) but oddly enough, AAPL's directory is not available to the public.

So, how does a mineral owner find a landman?

There are a lot of helpful people on the Mineral Rights Forum, including landmen who would happy to do some work for you (for a fee, of course).

By googling your state and the term, "landman", may be able to find local listing for landmen.

Find a Landman LLC is a referral service that will connect you with a landman in your area.

Find a Landman (findalandman.com)

What Will it Cost to Hire a Landman?

Landmen typically charge by the day rather than by the hour. Expect to pay somewhere between $350-$600 per day, depending on the landman's credentials and location.

Land work often requires travel to another county in order to perform title searches. When travel is required, expect to cover the landman's daily fee in addition to travel, lodging, and meals.

Land work can vary from project to project. Recording a document with the county clerk is very different from spending weeks (or months) sorting through title records to determine mineral ownership across multiple counties.

A landman will be able to give you a rough estimate of project's cost. It's usually best to find a landman in your state (or county).

Types of Landmen

Landmen typically work for oil and gas companies, researching the titles and negotiating directly with landowners to acquire oil and gas drilling leases on behalf of the oil and gas company. Landmen generally fall into three categories: company landmen, independent field landmen, and independent land consultants. Landmen are certified through the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL).

Registered Landman (RL)

A Registered Landman (RL) is the AAPL's initial level of certification, indicating a fundamental knowledge of the land industry and a commitment to further education.

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Registered Professional Landman (RPL)

Registered Professional Landman is a mid-level designation offered by the AAPL and distinguishes a landman as knowledgeable, experienced and professional.

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Certified Professional Landman (CPL)

Certified Professional Landman (CPL) is the highest designation offered by the AAPL. The CPL certification is in indicator of competency, proficiency and professionalism.

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