Heirs property is land or real estate that is passed down informally from generation to generation without a legal will or proper probate process. As a result, the ownership becomes “tangled,” meaning multiple family members—sometimes dozens or more—hold a fractional interest in the property, but no one has clear title.

Key characteristics of heirs property:

• No clear title: The property is jointly owned by all the heirs, but no single person can sell, mortgage, or make legal decisions about the land without the consent of all co-owners.

• Increased vulnerability: Without clear title, families may not be able to access government assistance, loans, or disaster relief. The land can also be at risk of being sold through partition sales, often at below-market value.

• Difficult to maintain or develop: Since everyone must agree on major decisions, improvements or repairs often go undone.