Opinion ID: 1842804
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: intent of the conveyances

Text: Briefly, when construing or interpreting deeds and reservations contained therein, we seek to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the parties. Pursue Energy Corp. v. Perkins, 558 So.2d 349, 351 (Miss. 1990). We begin with the instruments themselves, examining the language contained within the four corners. Id.; see also Pfisterer v. Noble & Cities Serv. Oil Co., 320 So.2d 383, 384 (Miss. 1975). Our rule in this jurisdiction is that the instruments should be read as a whole. Lackey v. Corley, 295 So.2d 762 (Miss. 1974); Ford v. Jones, 226 Miss. 716, 85 So.2d 215 (1956); Texas Gulf Producing Co. v. Griffith, 218 Miss. 109, 65 So.2d 834 (1953). Where the instruments' substance is clear the intent of the parties must be given effect. Pursue, 558 So.2d at 352; Sumter Lumber Co. v. Skipper, 183 Miss. 595, 184 So. 296, sugg. of error overruled, 183 Miss. 595, 184 So. 835 (1938). To reiterate, these conveyances gave Clyde and Wilmena 74 acres of this 80 acre tract in question, including all the minerals, except that T.E. and Annabelle Whittington retained a 1/2 of 1/8 royalty interest for the rest of their natural lives. The reservation by T.E. and Annabelle Whittington of 1/2 of 1/8 royalty in the conveyance of the 230 acres, 54 acres of which are part of this particular 80 acre Whittington No. 12 tract, to Clyde and Wilmena, contains the language: of the whole of any oil, gas or other minerals produced from said lands; delivery of said royalties to be made to the grantors herein in the same manner as is provided for the delivery of said royalties by any present or future mineral lease affecting said lands. Likewise, the conveyance by Clyde and Wilmena to T.E. and Annabelle Whittington of the 1/2 of 1/8 royalty from the 20 acre tract which is part of this 80 acre Whittington No. 12 tract contains the same language: of the whole of any oil, gas or other minerals produced from said lands; delivery of said royalties to be made to the purchaser herein in the same manner as is provided for the delivery of said royalties by any present or future mineral lease affecting said lands. The majority's decision explains this away as form language but its presence is consistent with a common sense view of what the parties were seeking to achieve. From this language it is clearly the intent of these conveyances that T.E. and Annabelle Whittington were to receive 1 barrel of oil out of every 16 barrels produced or the proceeds from 1 barrel out of every 16 barrels produced for the remainder of their lives. Further, it was clearly the intent of the 1983 conveyance from Annabelle to Clyde that for the rest of Annabelle's lifetime, Clyde would be entitled to receive 1 barrel out of 16 produced or the proceeds from 1 barrel out of every 16 produced. However, the chancellor decreed that Clyde held the right to receive only the income earned (4,262.23) from the royalty money paid by Santa Fe for the 1/2 of 1/8 royalty instead of the full amount of the royalty ($53,827.87). Under the reasoning of the majority and the chancellor, Santa Fe, as owner, producer, and operator of the oil and gas leases, would not pay Clyde the entire proceeds of the 1/2 of 1/8 royalty but would invest the proceeds of the royalty at some rate of interest that would produce an income and then send him a check for that income only, thereby reducing the amount Clyde would receive for his royalty interest from $53,827.87 to $4,262.23. This result does great violence to our longstanding practice of construing documents so as to effect the intent of the parties. The instruments and the discussion above clearly show that the term life estate was used to limit the time period during which the royalty payments (in total) would be paid to T.E. and Annabelle Whittington and not to limit the quantum of the interest transferred.