The grantor is the seller, gifter, or estate signing a conveyance — the party giving up an interest. Every recorded conveyance has at least one grantor and one grantee, indexed by both names so a runsheet can walk forward (grantor index) or backward (grantee index) through history.
For mineral curative, the question is rarely "is the grantor on file" — it's "did the grantor have authority to convey." A deceased grantor signing through an executor is fine if letters testamentary are current. A deceased grantor whose signature appears on a deed dated after death is a forgery, a forged power of attorney, or a chain break that needs a probate.
Spousal joinder rules also live in grantor-land. In Texas, a married grantor conveying community property generally needs the spouse to join. A deed signed by one spouse alone may convey only that spouse's undivided community share — half — leaving the other half to clear later through a divorce decree, death, or curative deed.
Common pitfalls
- Confusing a grantor's name with a grantee's name during a runsheet pass — always verify which index you're reading.
- Treating an executor's deed as if the deceased decedent were the grantor — the estate is the grantor; the executor is the signatory.