Heirs' property, which is passed down between generations without going through the legal process of formally transferring a title, is a fragile form of ownership, attorneys told Law360, making residents vulnerable to a range of potential repercussions, including foreclosure, tax sales and being the target of investors attempting to buy the home below market value.
Now, the new D.C. Heirs Property Assistance Program aims to support people in situations like Robertson's. Two nonprofits in the district, DC Affordable Law Firm — which Robertson turned to for help last year — and Legal Counsel for the Elderly, each received $500,000 grants from the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development to provide legal representation to people navigating issues related to heirs' properties.