Bulletin: RI2013001

Dear Associates:

Stewart Title Guaranty Company has experienced significant claims regarding outstanding mineral rights. Usually this is because the title examination was not long enough to discover the instrument creating these rights back in the chain of title. For this reason add the following exception in Schedule B of every Commitment, Binder and Policy, unless you secure underwriter approval to remove or modify the exception.

“Minerals of whatsoever kind, subsurface and surface substances, including but not limited to coal, lignite, oil, gas, uranium, clay, rock, rotten rock, limestone, sand and gravel in, on, under and that may be produced from the Land, together with all rights, privileges, and immunities relating thereto, whether or not appearing in the Public Records or listed in Schedule B. The Company makes no representation as to the present ownership of any such interests. There may be leases, grants, exceptions or reservations of interests that are not listed.”

Always include in Schedule B any specific grant, reservation, or lease of minerals or other substances (such as caliche, gravel, rock, coal, lignite and limestone) that your search reflects. You must also add the following at the end of the specific exception (although the policy does not insure the title to any interest that is excepted): “The Company makes no representation as to the present ownership of any such interests. There may be leases, grants, exceptions or reservations of interests that are not listed.”

If you have any questions relating to this or other bulletins, please contact a Stewart Title Guaranty Company underwriter.

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