Center for Heirs’ Property® Unveils New Brand Identity and Celebrates Expansion into East Texas in Honor of 20-Year Milestone
Charleston, SC – Friday, June 20, 2025 – The Center for Heirs Property® (CHP), a national leader in providing solutions-oriented support to heirs’ property owners, is proud to unveil its refreshed brand identity and redesigned website—reflecting a modernized vision rooted in heritage, opportunity, and community power.
This milestone coincides with CHP’s 20th anniversary and the celebratory launch of its East Texas Heirs’ Property Initiative (ETHPi), an ambitious expansion bringing the organization’s vital services to more families across the South.
For two decades, CHP has been dedicated to protecting and preserving heirs’ property—land passed down through generations without a clear title—while promoting sustainable land use as a pathway to generational wealth. With deep expertise in legal support, forestry guidance, and education, and grassroots community engagement, CHP has become a trusted partner for families across the Southeast.
Expanding the Mission: East Texas Heirs’ Property Initiative
CHP’s new East Texas Heirs’ Property Initiative builds on this legacy, providing free and low-cost legal assistance, forestry services, and education to families in East Texas grappling with the challenges of heirs’ property ownership. The region—rich in land-based history and home to countless landowners—faces unique barriers related to generational land retention and access to resources.
Heirs’ property is not just a legal issue in East Texas—it’s a generational one. In some East Texas counties, as much as one-third of the land is clouded by heirs’ property, making it nearly impossible for families to access resources tied to ownership, such as USDA programs, conservation incentives, or loans. The need is real, urgent, and deeply rooted in the region’s history.
“East Texas families have deep ties to their land, but many face real challenges when it comes to proving ownership and accessing the resources they need to keep it. Through the East Texas Heirs’ Property Initiative, we’re delivering trusted, solutions-focused services—like legal support, forestry guidance, and education—to help families strengthen their land ownership and secure their future. We’re proud to do this work alongside the community and a new brand that better reflects who we are and where we’re going—rooted in legacy, focused on opportunity, and committed to helping every family thrive on the land they call home.”
— Dr. Jennie L. Stephens, CEO, Center for Heirs’ Property®
This isn’t just an expansion—it’s a response to a call from the landowners themselves. We’re stepping into East Texas not to replicate, but to respond—with humility, partnership, and a proven model that works.
“We believe that land is power, history, and future,” said Jennie L. Stephens, CEO of the Center for Heirs Property®.
“Our expansion into East Texas is not just about reaching a new geographic area—it’s about standing with families who’ve inherited land and legacy, but not always the tools to protect them. With this initiative, we’re delivering those tools—alongside a new brand that better reflects who we are and where we’re going.”
Learn more about the East Texas Heirs’ Property Initiative by visiting: heirsproperty.org/ethpi/
A New Look, A Continued Commitment
The rebrand, led by CHP’s communications team in partnership with creative agency Resource Media, features a new logo, color palette, and visual identity inspired by the landscapes and communities CHP serves. It’s complemented by a newly redesigned website by Dyme Agency —www.heirsproperty.org—which offers clearer access to services, stories, and resources for both families and partners.
This transformation was celebrated at CHP’s 20th Anniversary Gala: Rooted In Legacy, held on Friday, June 20th at the Charleston Gaillard Center. The event brought together partners, supporters, and community leaders from across the country to honor the organization’s legacy and future.
Impact by the Numbers
Since its founding in 2005, the Center for Heirs Property® has:
- Provided 5,842 clients with free, one-hour legal advice and counsel
- Drafted 2,050 simple wills through free, community-based Wills Clinics
- Delivered direct legal services to 1,962 clients to help resolve title issues—resulting in 412 cleared titles with a combined tax-assessed value of $30.1 million. These families now hold clear, marketable ownership of their land.
- Provided education and technical assistance to more than 650 families who collectively own and manage 40,000 acres of land.
- Secured $11 million to support partners in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, and West Virginia in adapting and replicating CHP’s proven service delivery model to meet the specific needs of their communities.
These numbers reflect not just services—but lives touched, families empowered, and futures made more secure.
To explore more about CHP’s programs and services, visit heirsproperty.org/our-work.
The Road Ahead
Looking forward, CHP is focused on continuing to expand access, champion reforms, and provide education that empowers landowners to preserve their property and economic potential.
“At CHP, we believe land is more than property—it’s legacy, opportunity, and stability. As we look to the road ahead, our focus remains on expanding access to trusted services, championing thoughtful reforms that strengthen families, and equipping landowners with the tools they need to preserve their property and unlock its economic potential. This is about helping people build stronger futures on the land they already call home.”
— Dr. Jennie L. Stephens, CEO, Center for Heirs’ Property®
How to Support CHP
CHP’s growth and continued impact depend on collective action. Community members and partners are encouraged to:
- Donate to support their legal, forestry, and community engagement and outreach services
- Share resources with families who may be facing heirs’ property challenges
- Connect with the organization to volunteer, collaborate, or seek support
To get involved, visit www.heirsproperty.org, follow CHP on [Instagram/Facebook/LinkedIn], or email info@heirsproperty.org.
About the Center for Heirs Property®
The Center for Heirs’ Property® empowers under-resourced families to safeguard their land and homes for generations to come. Working in deep relationship with landowners, CHP provides legal support and financial education, and help them grow working landscapes that sustain generational wealth. Headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, CHP works across the South building infrastructure to deliver legal services, forestry education, and championing reforms to ensure under-resourced families have the tools they need to save, protect, and grow the value of their family’s most precious asset — the roof over their heads and the land under their feet. Rooted in South Carolina, CHP envisions a nation in which everyone can enjoy the legacy of home.
