Mapping the Movement: A National Look at Heirs’ Property Work and Where We Go From Here
By Eugene Z. Bertrand, 2025 Yale School of the Environment Fellow, Intern at Center for Heirs’ Property®
Heirs’ property is one of the most significant but often overlooked barriers to building intergenerational wealth in the United States. For Black, Indigenous, and rural families in particular, the inability to secure clear title to land has long stood in the way of stability, economic opportunity, and legacy preservation. At the Center for Heirs Property®, we work to change that reality by protecting family land, supporting sustainable land use, and promoting legal and forestry education.
In the summer of 2024, in partnership with the Southern Rural Development Center and the Center for Heirs Property® launched a national survey to better understand the current landscape of heirs’ property work across the country. We wanted to know: Where is this work happening? Who is doing it? What support do they need? The Landscape Analysis Survey was not open to the general public but was instead distributed through targeted networks of legal advocates, educators, service providers, and other professionals engaged in this space. We received 191 responses representing 29 states and territories, with the highest concentrations in the Southeastern United States, including North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama.
What we found paints a picture of a field that is both growing and grounded. Many organizations and individuals have been doing this work for just one to five years, reflecting a rising awareness and urgency around the issue. At the same time, a meaningful portion of respondents bring more than a decade of experience, which reflects the long-standing commitment of community-rooted leaders who have been working on these challenges for years.
Most organizations reported working locally within a single state or group of counties, but a significant number also offer services regionally or nationally. This range speaks to both the deeply local nature of heirs’ property issues and the increasing need for scaled solutions and resource-sharing across geographies.
When asked what support they most need to do their work more effectively, respondents were clear. Seventy-one percent identified access to legal support as a primary need. More than half cited the need for enhanced legal or professional expertise, and over a third pointed to the challenge of securing sustainable funding. Other common needs included advanced technical training, educational resources, and stronger relationships with partner organizations. These findings confirm what many in the field already know: that heirs’ property work requires a multi-layered approach that blends legal services, education, advocacy, and trust-building.
The survey also asked respondents about the communities they serve. The majority reported working with Black, Indigenous, and Latinx families, which reaffirmed the deep connections between land loss, systemic racism, and economic exclusion. Overall, the data from this survey made it clear that this work is not just about resolving legal disputes; it is about correcting historic inequities and creating lasting opportunities for future generations to thrive with the resources they need and deserve. Over the summer of 2025, the newly analyzed data were shared with organizations and stakeholders across the country, sparking conversations on how to strengthen collaboration, close service gaps, and advance policy solutions.
Looking ahead, the findings from this survey offer an important foundation for building a stronger, more connected national movement. Understanding where the work is being done and where gaps remain allows us to focus our energy where it is needed most. It also positions the Center for Heirs’ Property® to continue convening partners, advocating for policy change, expanding service models, and strengthening the infrastructure that makes this work possible.
We hope this is only the beginning. We encourage individuals and organizations to reach out, explore the full survey findings, and consider joining us in future mapping and collaboration efforts. Together, we can protect family land, restore access to justice, and ensure that the movement for land preservation is both inclusive and enduring.
