Free will preparation helps families keep their homes and legacy
A growing number of Black homeowners in Philadelphia are taking powerful steps to protect their family wealth. Through the city’s Will Power Program, more than 1,000 residents have received free legal help to create wills and estate plans since 2022.
The program connects low-income homeowners with Community Legal Services through trusted neighborhood partners, including local churches. One of those residents is 72-year-old Vendetta Stephens, who worked with the program to write her first will.
“I used to say ‘Wills are for rich people. What am I going to leave?’ But actually, I left something to all of them — just from that one house,” Stephens shared. “If I leave everybody something, and it’s in writing, there’s no dispute about anything.”
Tackling racial wealth gaps through estate planning
At a recent celebration at Zion Baptist Church, Debby Freedman, the executive director of Community Legal Services, called the program’s success a “gigantic accomplishment.”
“Wills help to stabilize neighborhoods and families, build and maintain intergenerational wealth, and in many cases help to close the racial wealth gap in our city,” she explained.
Estate planning is a major gap in Black communities across the country. A 2022 report from CNBC found that more than 70% of Black Americans do not have a will. This leaves many families vulnerable to losing homes, land, and wealth after a loved one passes away.
Brickson Diamond, co-founder of Black House Foundation, explained why this issue matters. “So many families lose their family access and ownership of land,” he said. “If you haven’t prepared to pay the taxes and get the mortgage covered … the home will at best fall into disrepair and at worst fall out of the hands of the family.”
Serving older Black residents with lower incomes
Philadelphia’s Will Power Program was designed to meet this need directly. Most participants are older Black residents earning less than $60,000 a year. Many have lived in their homes for decades but lack a formal legal will to pass their property to their families.
A common issue in Philadelphia is “tangled titles.” This happens when a relative lives in a family home after the original owner dies, but their name is not on the deed. Without clear legal ownership, families can face high legal costs, foreclosure, or even deed theft.
By providing free legal help, the program gives residents the tools to secure their property rights and preserve their family legacy.
Strengthening communities and protecting generational wealth
This local initiative is part of a broader national push to address heirs’ property issues. Center for Heirs Property has spent years helping families resolve tangled titles and keep their land. Since 2005, the center has cleared more than 400 property titles worth $30.1 million and supported over 650 families across multiple states.
Programs like these give families legal ownership and peace of mind. They also help protect neighborhoods from displacement and strengthen Black communities.
By preparing wills, families can avoid long legal battles and keep their homes in their family for generations to come. For many Black homeowners, this simple legal step is becoming one of the most powerful tools to build and protect wealth.
