Ameris Bank Distributes Over $1 Million in Grants to Tackle Heirs’ Property Challenges
Ameris Bank, a valued member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLBank Atlanta), is making a meaningful contribution to addressing heirs’ property issues by distributing over $1.1 million in grants to three organizations. These grants aim to support efforts to resolve property title challenges, promote clear and secure homeownership, and reduce the risk of involuntary property loss. The three organizations selected to receive funding are:
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Jacksonville, Florida – $450,000
- Legal Services of North Florida – $442,404
- Invest Atlanta, Georgia – $250,000
These contributions come from the 2024 Heirs’ Property Family Wealth Protection Fund of FHLBank Atlanta. A total of $5.9 million has been allocated by FHLBank Atlanta to support 21 organizations across its district. These organizations are focused on resolving heirs’ property issues, helping families avoid losing their homes or land due to tangled titles, and ensuring long-term stability through secure property ownership.
Addressing the Root of Heirs’ Property Issues
Heirs’ property refers to land or homes inherited by descendants without a will, estate plan, or court documents, and without a clear title or deed. In such situations, the ownership of the property is unclear, which can create numerous problems for families, including exclusion from home equity loans, tax rebates, homestead exemptions, and disaster recovery assistance. Without the proper documentation, property conditions may deteriorate, and families may face difficulties maintaining the land’s value or transferring it through generations.
Kirk Malmberg, President and CEO of FHLBank Atlanta, emphasized the importance of addressing these property issues. He stated, “Our Fund is addressing a significant homeownership problem. Heirs’ property issues occur when land or homes are inherited by an owner’s descendants without a will, estate plan, or court document and/or without a clear title and deed to the property. Without proper paperwork, a property’s condition and value are much harder to maintain, and families may be excluded from accessing home equity loans, tax rebates, homestead exemptions, and disaster recovery assistance.”
Support to Local Communities
The recipients of the grants—LISC Jacksonville, Legal Services of North Florida, and Invest Atlanta—are playing a crucial role in addressing these challenges within their communities. Their efforts are aimed at ensuring families can maintain ownership of their homes and land, promoting the long-term economic stability of households, and helping to pass down wealth to future generations.
- LISC Jacksonville will use its grant of $450,000 to address heirs’ property challenges in Jacksonville, Florida. LISC Jacksonville is known for its community-focused initiatives and will continue to help families navigate the complexities of property ownership, ensuring that they can preserve their homes and land for future generations.
- Legal Services of North Florida, awarded $442,404, will work to assist residents in North Florida with legal challenges related to heirs’ property. By offering legal assistance, the organization aims to help families resolve title issues and secure clear property ownership.
- Invest Atlanta, with a grant of $250,000, will focus its efforts on resolving heirs’ property issues in Georgia. Invest Atlanta works to enhance the economic development of the area by addressing housing issues, creating opportunities for stable homeownership, and supporting communities in need.
The Importance of Clear and Stable Property Ownership
The grants provided by Ameris Bank and FHLBank Atlanta underscore the critical need for clear and stable property ownership in building long-term economic mobility and generational wealth. Clyde Anderson, Director of Community Lending at Ameris Bank, explained the importance of these initiatives, saying, “We are pleased that our applications for these three organizations were selected to participate in this worthwhile program. The grants will help families hold on to what they’ve earned and pass it on to the next generation. Clear and stable property ownership is essential to long-term economic mobility and generational wealth.”
The initiative also highlights the growing concern about the lack of estate planning among homeowners in the U.S. According to a 2024 Harris Poll conducted by FHLBank Atlanta, 90% of homeowners expect the equity in their home to benefit their heirs, yet more than 40% (43%) of homeowners lack a will, trust, or estate plan. Furthermore, the poll found that about 1 in 5 homeowners do not have—or are unsure whether they have—a clear title (22%) or recorded deed (20%) for their property. These issues contribute to the challenges faced by families when it comes to passing down home equity to future generations.
How These Grants Will Make a Difference
These grants are expected to have a significant impact in addressing the challenges associated with heirs’ property. For example, families in the affected regions will benefit from legal assistance, educational resources, and guidance on how to navigate the complexities of property ownership. The grants will also support efforts to help families secure clear titles to their property, which is essential for maintaining their homes, accessing financial services, and avoiding the involuntary loss of property.
By funding these organizations, FHLBank Atlanta and Ameris Bank are providing critical resources to families who may otherwise be unable to navigate the complex legal and financial processes involved in resolving heirs’ property issues. The goal is to enable families to preserve their homes, build wealth, and pass down property to future generations.
The Larger Impact of Heirs’ Property Resolution
The resolution of heirs’ property issues not only impacts individual families but also has broader implications for communities and the economy. When families can resolve title disputes and secure clear ownership, they are more likely to invest in maintaining and improving their homes, which can have a positive ripple effect on the local housing market and community development. Additionally, clear property ownership enables families to take advantage of financial opportunities, such as home equity loans, which can further support their economic growth and stability.
Efforts to resolve heirs’ property issues are also crucial for addressing disparities in wealth and homeownership, particularly in marginalized communities. Heirs’ property disproportionately affects African American families, who are more likely to face challenges with property inheritance and ownership. By addressing these issues, FHLBank Atlanta, Ameris Bank, and the organizations receiving grants are helping to close the wealth gap and ensure that families have the opportunity to build generational wealth through stable homeownership.
About Ameris Bank
Ameris Bank, a subsidiary of Ameris Bancorp (NYSE: ABCB), is a state-chartered bank headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Ameris operates 164 financial centers across the Southeast and serves consumer and business customers nationwide through select lending channels. Ameris manages $26.5 billion in assets as of March 31, 2025, and provides a full range of traditional banking and lending products, treasury and cash management, insurance premium financing, and mortgage and refinancing services. Learn more about Ameris at amerisbank.com.
About FHLBank Atlanta
FHLBank Atlanta offers competitively-priced financing, community development grants, and other banking services to help member financial institutions make affordable home mortgages and provide economic development credit to neighborhoods and communities. The Bank’s members – its shareholders and customers – are commercial banks, credit unions, savings institutions, community development financial institutions, and insurance companies located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. FHLBank Atlanta is one of 11 district Banks in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Since 1990, the FHLBanks have awarded approximately $9.1 billion in Affordable Housing Program funds, assisting more than 1.2 million households. For more information, visit www.fhlbatl.com.
