INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Prosperity Indiana, in partnership with Indiana Legal Services (ILS), has launched the Indiana Heirs’ Property Initiative to protect generational wealth and stabilize local communities. Supported by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, the program focuses on estate planning education, legal prevention and title resolution for properties passed down without a formal will or estate plan.
"Heirs' property" refers to properties passed down/ transferred without a formal will or estate plan. Without a single name on the deed, families can face a "tangled title," leaving them locked out of home equity loans, unable to update homeowner's insurance, ineligible for federal disaster aid, and vulnerable to predatory forced land sales.
“At a time when the cost of living continues to outpace wage growth here in Indiana, we must deploy all of our resources to keep Hoosier families stably housed” said Aspen Clemons, Executive Director at Prosperity Indiana. “Prosperity Indiana is proud to be in partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis and Indiana Legal Service to preserve affordable housing and generational wealth across communities throughout the state” Clemons stated.
Recent research by Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis and Black Onyx Management reveals that heirs' property issues threaten at least 6,600 properties across Marion and Allen counties alone. Statewide, Indiana ranks 4th highest in the nation for communities most likely to be impacted by these vulnerabilities.
To combat this, the initiative deploys educational programming, hosts public workshops, and provides direct legal assistance to help low-income Hoosiers untangle deeds and clear titles through Indiana Legal Services.
“Families shouldn’t have to risk losing a home simply because they’re unsure where to turn for help,” said Blair Hedges, Heirs Rights Attorney at Indiana Legal Services. “This initiative allows us to expand our services and offer free legal support to Hoosiers who need to make an estate plan, clear inherited title, or learn more about their rights. We’re committed to making sure every Hoosier knows that legal tools exist to help protect their homes and the communities they’ve built.”
Prosperity Indiana has launched a series of monthly educational webinars to introduce the program to the public. To register for the upcoming Heirs Property 101 webinar or sign up for future community workshops, visit here. To access step-by-step local resources to locate property deeds and safeguard your home, visit housing4hoosiers.org/program-resources.
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About Prosperity Indiana
The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
About Indiana Legal Services, Inc.
Indiana Legal Services, Inc. (ILS) is a not-for-profit law firm and the largest provider of free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income people in Indiana. ILS helps clients in all 92 counties who are faced with legal problems that harm their ability to obtain basic needs such as food, shelter, income, medical care or personal safety. ILS also handles cases in other areas including family law where there is domestic violence, housing, consumer law, access to health care, and access to government benefits. ILS does not handle any criminal matters. Our mission is “to use the law to fight poverty and racism, empower clients, and improve access to justice.” Learn more at www.indianalegalservices.org.
For legal help, go to https://www.indianalegalservices.org/applyonline/
To set up an outreach or informational clinic, contact Blair Hedges at blair.hedges@ilsi.net.
