Traditionally, Historic Gullah Land comes with a unique set of issues. Most property, because it has been passed down through generations, is considered to be heirs’ property, which is land that has been handed from family member to family member, often without it being property deeded. The original purchaser, usually a former slave, did not have a will or was unable to deed the property to their descendants. The purchaser, more than 100+ years later, might have several, if not hundreds of heirs who have ownership rights towards the property, yet without a clear title. The property probably has been lived upon for generations, yet if the land goes up for sale or needs to be divided, the legality of who can do what with the property comes into play.
As a result of the complexity of heir’s property, and as a non-profit, the Lowcountry Gullah Foundation’s Historic Gullah Land Preservation Program has a three-pronged approach. The goal of this program is not to become a crutch and or an annual financial handout for struggling landowners. The program’s ultimate goal is to allow property owners the opportunity to maintain their generational assets.
