HEIRS Act of 2024

The HEIRS Act of 2024 establishes two grant programs through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help states and local entities address heirs' property issues, and amends existing housing counseling requirements to include heirs' property education.

Sec. 2, Grants for states adopting the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act: HUD must create a grant program within one year for states, local governments, territories, or Tribal governments that have already adopted the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act (or a similar law) before the bill's enactment, or that adopt it after. Grant funds must be used to help residents with expenses related to establishing property ownership or settling estates, such as title reports, surveys, legal fees, and recording costs. Recipients may layer this assistance with other sources. HUD must issue rules with selection criteria within one year. Up to $30 million per year is authorized for fiscal years 2025 through 2035, available until spent.

Sec. 3, Grants for heirs' property resolution assistance: HUD must run a program providing annual grants to eligible entities, HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, legal services clinics run by higher education institutions, or qualifying nonprofits, for housing counseling, legal assistance, and financial help with title clearing and home retention for heirs' property owners. In awarding grants, HUD must consider the entity's track record helping homeowners, targeting minority and low- and moderate-income persons, serving high-concentration neighborhoods, planned partnerships, and location in areas with many heirs' property owners. Up to $10 million per year is authorized for fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

Sec. 4, Heirs' property housing counseling: The Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 is amended to require any nonprofit receiving HUD counseling funds to explain to consumers what heirs' property is, its risks, how to avoid issues, and inform them of available estate planning and title clearing options, including those under sections 2 and 3 of this Act. HUD must ensure these nonprofits know how to refer consumers to mission-driven nonprofits and legal clinics for title clearing and estate planning. Heirs' property is defined as residential property passed by intestacy and held by two or more heirs as tenants in common.