Asset Funders Network is committed to advancing knowledge and strengthening the systems that help families preserve homeownership and generational wealth.
As the newest additions to AFN’s body of heirs’ property research and resources, these two complementary reports examine heirs’ property in New Jersey through two connected lenses: understanding the scope of the issue and identifying opportunities for stronger local responses.
Together with our prior briefs on policy and social return on investment on heirs’ property in New Jersey, they provide practical research that can inform philanthropy, strengthen public policy, and support communities working to preserve family wealth.
CAMDEN COUNTY HEIRS’ PROPERTY PREVALENCE STUDY
Understanding the Landscape
How widespread is heirs’ property?
This report provides new estimates of heirs’ property prevalence across Camden County, helping funders, government leaders, municipal officials, and community stakeholders better understand the potential scale of the issue and where it may be affecting families and neighborhoods.
The identification of 3,843 probable heirs’ properties in just one of New Jersey’s 21 counties suggests significant prevalence across the state.
MUNICIPAL POLICIES FOR PROPERTY PRESERVATION IN NEWARK AND TRENTON
Advancing Local Responses
How can communities better protect homeowners and preserve family wealth?
This report examines municipal policies and practices related to heirs’ property and property preservation in Newark and Trenton. It highlights promising approaches, identifies opportunities to strengthen homeowner protections, and offers insights that can inform local decision-making across New Jersey.
Together, these reports provide a more complete understanding of heirs’ property in New Jersey—pairing data on the scope of the issue with insights into policies and practices that can help communities respond. As part of AFN’s expanding portfolio of heirs’ property resources, this research is designed to support informed investment, collaboration, and action.
Additional Resources
Additional New Jersey-focused heirs’ property-related briefs:
Heirs’ Property: Investing to Preserve Wealth in New Jersey applies the framework of the national heirs’ property social return on investment analysis to three New Jersey counties: Essex, Camden, and Mercer. The methodology used in this report is fully described in the national brief, Heirs’ Property: Investing to Preserve Wealth.
State-Level Policy Scan of Law Impacting Heirs’ Property surveys the New Jersey state and local policies that impact heirs’ property. The checklist within this report is based on the national brief, Heirs’ Property: Policies to Preserve Wealth.
AFN is grateful to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for supporting the development of the four New Jersey heirs’ property briefs. A full list of AFN heirs’ property briefs is available at Heirs’ Property Resources – Asset Funders Network.