Heirs Property
go.ncsu.edu/readext?736876
en Español / em Português
El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.
Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.
Português
Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.
Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.
English
English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.
Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.
Collapse ▲** 2024 NC A&T & NCSU Heirs Property Summits **
All Summits are held from 9 to 3. More info here.
May 8 Lumberton Register July 17 Monroe Register
—
Heirs property is land that is jointly owned by descendants of a deceased person whose estate was never handled in probate court and is passed down from generation to generation. These joint owners (heirs) have the right to use the property, but none of them have a clear title. Without proper documentation and a court proceeding to clear the “cloudy” title, third parties (like banks, mortgage lending companies and others have no way of knowing who is really entitled to the property and whether any creditor claims apply. This means that none of the heirs can sell, mortgage, or make any repairs the real estate.
IMPLICATIONS OF HEIRS PROPERTY
- The land becomes vulnerable to involuntary loss through adverse possession, tax auction, or a partition-by-sale if granted by the court.
- The heirs cannot sell the property or use it as collateral for a mortgage
- The property may be ineligible for federal assistance, like USDA farm programs or FEMA support after a natural disaster
- Most potential tenants, logging companies, or other people who may wish to do business with the property may refrain due to title and ownership issues;
- Heirs may be reluctant to repair or improvement the property because every dollar spent is supposed to be divided among all of the other heirs.
- Family relationships can be ruined forever
- Precious family history and evidence of community contributions can be lost
Occurrences of heirs property are found in all types of landowners. The proportion of land owned by heirs is disproportionately high among racial and ethnic minority groups, low-wealth and low-income households, and other vulnerable populations who are less likely to conduct sophisticated estate planning. Relatively high rates of African American land loss during the 20th century likely contributes to the widening racial wealth gap by depleting existing assets and undermining the transfer of these assets across generations.
Heirs Property Resources
Heirs Property Project (NC A&T)
Heirs’ Property: Understanding the Legal Issues in North Carolina (VT)
Myths & Facts about Heirs Property (GA)
Heirs Property Resources (NC Roanoke Electric Cooperative)
Heirshares (online training for heirs’ property owners)
How to Deal with Heirs Property (NC / UNC)
Sustaining Ecological and Economic Diversity Among Limited Resource Landholders by Expanding Opportunities for Management of Opportunities for Management of Productive Woodlands (NC / NCSU)
Splitting Heirs: The Challenges Posed by Heirs’ Property Ownership to Coastal Resilience Planning (NC SeaGrant)
Identifying Potential Heirs Properties in the Southeastern United States (USDA)
Heirs’ Property in the Southern United States (USDA)
The use of brand names and/or any mention or listing of specific commercial products or services herein is solely for educational purposes and does not imply endorsement by NC State University or our partners, nor discrimination against similar brands, products or services not mentioned