Heir's Property Relending Program

Have you inherited land without a clear title or documented legal ownership? The Heirs’ Property Relending Program (HPRP) can help you resolve heirs’ land ownership and succession issues on agricultural land. 

Heirs’ property issues have long been a barrier for many producers and landowners to access USDA programs and services, and this relending program provides access to capital to help producers find a resolution. The program’s benefits go far beyond its participants. It will also keep farmland in farming, protect family farm legacies and support economic viability.  

What Is Heirs’ Property?

Heirs’ property is a legal term that refers to family land inherited without a will or legal documentation of ownership. It has historically been challenging for heirs to benefit from USDA programs because of the belief that they cannot get a farm number without proof of ownership or control of land. Learn more on farmers.gov/heirs.

How the Program Works

This program works differently than other USDA programs. Rather than USDA providing the loan directly to producers, the loan will be provided to intermediary lenders, who then relend the funds to producers like you.

Here are additional details:

1. Intermediary lenders – cooperatives, credit unions, and nonprofit organizations – can apply for loans up to $5 million at 1% interest once the Farm Service Agency (FSA) opens the two-month signup window in late August.  

2. Farm Service Agency (FSA) selects and announces lenders.

3. Heirs can apply -- for up to $600,000 -- directly to lenders for loans and assistance.

4. Heirs and lenders will need to repay the loan as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill.  

Current List of Approved Lenders

Akiptan, Inc

• Service Area: Nationwide, targeting Indian Country.

• Contact: Skya Ducheneaux, 605-964-8081

Cherokee Nation Economic Development Trust Authority

• Service area: Producers in rural areas (as designated by USDA) of the 14 counties, in whole or in part, encompassing the Cherokee Nation Reservation. Borrower(s) must reside in the service area and land must be agricultural land located in the service area.

• Contacts: sbac@cherokee.org; Stephen Highers, 918-207-3955; and Brian Wagman, 918-453-5531

Shared Capital Cooperative, which has a partnership with Federation of Southern Cooperatives

• Service Area: Producers in the states of: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina

• Contact: Christina Jennings, 612-767-2114; and Dania Davy, 404-765-0991 or info@federation.coop. 

Intermediary lenders will make loans to heirs who: 

• Are individuals or legal entities with authority to incur the debt and to resolve ownership and succession of a farm owned by multiple owners; 

• Are a family member or heir-at-law related by blood or marriage to the previous owner of the property;  

• Agree to complete a succession plan. 

If you’re an heir, you may use the loans to resolve title issues by financing the purchase or consolidation of property interests and financing costs associated with a succession plan.

This may also include costs of buying out fractional interests of other heirs to clear the title, which includes closing costs, appraisals, title searches, surveys, preparing documents, mediation, and legal services.   

If you’re an heir, you may not use loans for any land improvement, development purpose, acquisition or repair of buildings, acquisition of personal property, payment of operating costs, payment of finders’ fees, or similar costs. 

The USDA has announced the first three lenders approved to give these loans. Contact the one relevant to your area below.

Current List of Approved Lenders

Akiptan, Inc

• Service Area: Nationwide, targeting Indian Country.

• Contact: Skya Ducheneaux, 605-964-8081

Cherokee Nation Economic Development Trust Authority

• Service area: Producers in rural areas (as designated by USDA) of the 14 counties, in whole or in part, encompassing the Cherokee Nation Reservation. Borrower(s) must reside in the service area and land must be agricultural land located in the service area.

• Contacts: sbac@cherokee.org; Stephen Highers, 918-207-3955; and Brian Wagman, 918-453-5531

Shared Capital Cooperative, which has a partnership with Federation of Southern Cooperatives

• Service Area: Producers in the states of: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina

• Contact: Christina Jennings, 612-767-2114; and Dania Davy, 404-765-0991 or info@federation.coop. 

• August 18, 2022 News Release: USDA Announces First Three Lenders for Heirs’ Property Relending Program

• July 29, 2021 Press Conference with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, U.S. Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., and U.S. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos

• July 29, 2021 News Release: Biden Administration to Invest $67 Million to Help Heirs Resolve Land Ownership and Succession Issues

• HPRP Final Rule in the Federal Register

• Frequently Asked Questions about HPRP