Indiana Subordination by Mineral Owners of Rights to Make Use of the Surface Estate — Transfer is a legal process that pertains to the relationship between mineral owners and the owners of the surface estate in Indiana. When mineral rights are separate from the surface estate, subordination allows the mineral owners to use and access the surface estate for the purpose of mining or extracting natural resources. In Indiana, there are two main types of subordination by mineral owners of rights to make use of the surface estate: 1. Voluntary Subordination: This type of subordination occurs when the mineral owner willingly and voluntarily agrees to subordinate their rights in favor of the surface owner. This typically involves negotiating a legally binding agreement, which outlines the terms and conditions of the subordination. The agreement is then recorded in the county land records to ensure its enforceability. 2. Statutory Subordination: Under certain circumstances, Indiana law allows for statutory subordination of mineral rights to the surface estate. This occurs when the surface owner or lessee of the surface estate requests the subordination, and the mineral owner does not agree to it voluntarily. Statutory subordination may be granted if the court determines that it is in the best interest of both parties and that the surface owner or lessee has the right to reasonably use the surface estate for agricultural, commercial, or residential purposes. The purpose of subordination is to balance the rights of both parties involved, ensuring that the mineral owner can access and extract the minerals while the surface owner's use of the land is not unreasonably hindered. This legal process provides a framework for resolving any potential conflicts or disputes that may arise between the two parties. Keywords: Indiana, subordination by mineral owners, rights to make use of the surface estate, transfer, voluntary subordination, statutory subordination, mineral rights, surface estate, natural resources, legal process, enforceability, county land records, negotiating, terms and conditions, best interest, court, agricultural, commercial, residential purposes, conflicts, disputes.