What is the Richmond Heirs Property Network?
RHPN is a new, no-cost program serving the Richmond - Petersburg region to help our community members get clear title to their homes. We are a free, charitable network of legal providers aimed to help those who qualify earn the full, legal rights of homeownership.
Get in touch with the Richmond Heirs Property Network and find out if you qualify for no-cost assistance. Click the Request Help or Contact Us button above to reach out.
RHPN can connect you with free legal services at no cost to you to resolve and prevent heirs property.
Do you live in a family home, and have you encountered challenges trying to sell your home, maintain or repair it, pay a mortgage or property taxes on it, or other things that require proving your ownership? You may be facing heirs property.
RHPN can fund your case up to $7500 in costs and connect you with no cost life planning services.
What is Heirs Property?
In short, heirs property is complicated! “Heirs property” refers to unclear legal ownership of a property, most often due to a previous owner having passed away without a will. This creates multiple owners of a property or “tenants in common.” The surviving owners may not even be named on the deed, live on the property, or be aware they have heirs property!
To make matters more confusing, heirs property can also happen when someone does have a will! These wills may name multiple heirs to one property without outlining the specific portions of the land, creating “cloudy title” and a tricky legal situation for heirs to fix. Wills can also be lost or misplaced, which Virginia essentially considers heirs property.
Heirs property can be vacant or occupied, well-maintained or falling apart, current on taxes or tax-delinquent: there is not one way that heirs property looks. The risks to people who face heirs property, though, are significant.
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Title companies will not insure a home with an unclear title.
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Most lenders will not approve a home equity loan on collateral that has no proof of ownership.
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Clear title is required to access and receive most home repair grants and loans
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Disaster assistance could be denied due to unclear title
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Unclear ownership of an heirs property prevents the creation and transfer of generational wealth
Heirs property can lead to serious challenges - at worst it can result in forced sales, land grabs, and tax foreclosure – a complete loss of someone’s family home.
Richmond Heirs Property Network can help!