Center for Heirs’ Property® Launches National Policy Agenda After 20 Years of Helping Families Secure Ownership of Their Homes and Land
New 2025–2027 agenda outlines practical solutions to strengthen property rights and expand access to housing, agricultural, and disaster recovery resources nationwide.
CHARLESTON, S.C. — April 3, 2026 — The Center for Heirs’ Property® (CHP) has launched its 2025–2027 Policy Agenda, marking 20 years of helping families navigate complex heirs’ property issues and secure clear ownership of their homes and land.
Heirs’ property occurs when land is passed down without a will or remains in a deceased person’s name, often leaving multiple heirs with unclear ownership. This can prevent families from repairing homes, accessing agricultural programs, qualifying for disaster recovery assistance, or benefiting from property tax protections—even after generations of land stewardship.
Key Impact
450+
property titles cleared
$37+
million in land value
secured
Thousands of acres returned
to productive use
“Clear and stable property ownership is foundational to housing stability and long-term community resilience,” said Tomeka Strickland, Senior Vice President and Director of Community Investment Services at the Federal. Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.
These outcomes reflect CHP’s direct, on-the-ground work with families over the past two decades.
For two decades, CHP has worked directly with families to clear title and stabilize ownership. This experience has informed a national policy framework focused on practical, solutions-oriented reforms.
“Heirs’ property is not just a Southern issue—it is a national economic and community issue affecting both urban and rural families,” said Dr. Jennie L. Stephens, CEO of the Center for Heirs’ Property®. “Our goal is to advance solutions that protect ownership, expand opportunity, and ensure every family can remain rightfully home—rooted in legacy and growing the future.”
The Policy Agenda outlines strategies to strengthen property rights, improve how public systems serve landowners, and expand access to housing, agricultural, and disaster recovery resources that support long-term economic stability.
“The Policy Agenda reflects what we’ve learned from working directly with families—practical solutions that align systems with real-world needs,” said Josh Walden, Chief Programs and Policy Officer of the Center for Heirs’ Property®.
Are you an organization interested in advancing practical, bipartisan, and solutions-oriented policies that strengthen heirs’ property owners and their communities?
For media inquiries, please contact:
Tom Keppeler
Director of Communications
Center for Heirs’ Property®
