HEIR Act of 2025

This bill makes it easier for people to prove they own their homes after a major disaster so they can get federal help to repair or protect them. It focuses on “heirs’ property” owners—families who inherited a home without a formal deed—and others who don’t have the usual ownership papers. HUD must change its rules for its Community Development Block Grant disaster recovery and mitigation programs to accept more kinds of proof of ownership during Presidentially declared disasters.

Acceptable proof would include a signed affidavit of ownership and letters from local schools, benefit agencies, or social service groups. HUD must create a standard affidavit, give it to every applicant, and make it available in English, Spanish, and other common local languages. The affidavit cannot be required to be notarized. The bill also defines “heirs’ property” as a home passed down without a will to two or more heirs and exempts the new affidavit form from public comment rules, so it can be used quickly.

• Who is affected: Homeowners who inherited homes without clear paperwork, and others lacking traditional documents.
• What changes: HUD must accept alternative proofs of ownership (affidavit, letters), provide a standard affidavit in multiple languages, and cannot require notarization.
• When it applies: For disaster recovery and mitigation aid after a Presidentially declared disaster.