Don’t Lose the Land: Learn About Heirs' Property in Our Free Online Series

Nicole Cook
11 hours ago
3 min read

Image is the digital flyer for the Heirs' Property: Understanding Problems, Prevention and Resolution Interactive Workshop Series

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Join us online Tuesday evenings this June for our free, three-part series about heirs’ property.

Heirs' property is land that has been passed down informally within families, often without a will or legal documentation, resulting in shared ownership among multiple descendants.

This form of ownership is common in many communities, but particularly prevalent in communities of color, low-income communities and rural communities, and can lead to complex legal and emotional challenges when not properly addressed.

In this free three-part webinar series, participants will gain essential knowledge about what heirs' property is and why it matters. We'll explore the deep impacts it can have on families and communities, learn how to identify whether property is held as heirs’ property, and examine both the legal and cultural considerations connected to heirs’ property.

The sessions will also cover how to prevent creating heirs' property, how to communicate effectively with family members on issues related to heirs’ property, and what solutions exist for resolving heirs' property matters.

Whether you're a landowner, community member, or advocate, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge and tools to protect family land and preserve generational wealth.

And, because this program is presented by UMES Extension and the Agriculture Law Education Initiative, it is Maryland-specific. That means you’ll learn about the laws and practices that are specific to Maryland like:

What makes a will valid in Maryland?
What happens if someone dies without a will in Maryland?
Maryland’s probate process?
How Maryland’s new Partition of Property Act helps protect families’ land

Register now for each session at the links below

INTRODUCTION SESSION – June 5, 2025 – 6:30-8pm

What will you learn?

What heirs’ property is
The impacts of heirs’ property on families and communities
Legal and cultural considerations connected to heirs’ property

PREVENTION SESSION - June 12, 2025 – 6:30-8pm

What will you learn?

Basics of estate and succession planning
Steps to prevent heirs’ property when establishing a will
Working with an attorney

RESOLUTION SESSION - June 19, 2025 – 6:30-8pm

What will you learn?

The importance of working with other family members and tools and resources to assist
Steps to take to understand who legally owns the property
Legal structures that can hold land owned by heirs’ property owners

SPEAKERS:

Lila B. Karki, PhD, PPE

Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics and Extension Program Evaluation Specialist

UMES Extension

Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences