§ 15-56-304 - Petition to lease or operate -- Parties defendant.
15-56-304. Petition to lease or operate -- Parties defendant.
Any owners, partners, or corporate shareholders, or parties as set forth in 15-56-301 desiring the leasing and operating of mineral lands or mineral interests shall file, in the circuit court in the county in which the mineral lands or mineral interests or the greater part thereof lie, a written petition describing the lands under which the mineral interests exist and shall make as parties defendant owners of the various interests or their lessee, if any, in the mineral lands or mineral rights in, on, and under the lands. The petition shall state, as far as known, the amount of interest held by each, with a prayer that the unleased interests or any part thereof or certain portions of the mineral lands and interests be leased and that the money derived from leases be paid to the owners as the court may direct. Any lessor whose lessee is either a plaintiff or defendant shall not be a necessary party to the suit.