Heirs’ Property: Investing to Preserve Wealth in Philadelphia

Please join for the launch of AFN’s new prospective analysis of the social return on investment addressing heirs’ property in Philadelphia.

Home ownership is the foundation of wealth and asset building for many families. Yet for thousands of Philadelphians, the process of inheriting property from family members is complicated by heirs’ property and “tangled titles” – situations such as when heirs are not listed on the property deed, fraudulent conveyances, adverse possession, and rent-to-own agreements gone awry. Confronting these challenges can help families preserve their assets and increase economic security, while also encouraging neighborhood stability and preventing homelessness.

The panel will discuss the importance of current efforts to manage heirs’ property and tangled titles, and the goals and challenges of expanding funding and policies for grappling with these issues in the region.

Following the panel, attendees will participate in small group discussions about the impact of tackling heirs’ property.

Presenters:

Jose Diaz, Ph.D., Chief Economist, The Constellation Fund
Karama Neal, Ph.D., Strategic Project Director, Asset Funders Network

Panelists:

Evan Cantiello, Program Officer, Vanguard
Amanda Colon-Smith, Officer, The Pew Charitable Trusts
Rida Haq, Executive Director, Philadelphia VIP
James P. Leonard, Esq., Commissioner of Records, City of Philadelphia Department of Records
Diana Lind, Program Officer, Asset Funders Network (Moderator)