A regional series of wills clinics is helping eastern Kentuckians pass down family-owned land.
Heirs property is land that is left to family members without a clear deed or will. That puts restrictions on how they can use it without full agreement, and can make it vulnerable to takeovers by large companies.
Thousands of acres of such property is in Appalachia. The Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network, or LiKEN, is organizing wills clinics across eastern Kentucky to prevent creating more heirs property, and to clearly define how the land is passed down.
Kevin Slovinsky is LiKEN’s Lands and Revenues Director.Kevin Slovinsky is LiKEN’s Lands and Revenues Director. He says they work with local organizers and attorneys.
“It's really important to know things like, ‘Oh, you shouldn't plan the clinic for that day and time, because that's when the high school basketball team game is, and the whole town is going to be at that basketball game,’” Slovinsky said.
The group drafted more than 122 wills last year, but there’s concern for the program’s future. Much of the funding came from a USDA grant that was terminated last month.
“We are working hard to find substitute funding so that we can continue our programming and build on the success of last year,” Slovinsky said.
The clinics are scheduled for Harlan May 9, Pikeville June 13 and Leslie County July 22. Information on how to RSVP is available here. Walk-ins are also available.
