Statewide & Federal
Heirs’ Property: Farming Inherited Land
Coming home to family land that never went through probate? You can still get a USDA farm number and access loans, disaster help, and conservation programs.
What It Is
- Heirs’ property is family land passed down without a will or a clear deed, so the heirs share it but nobody has clear title.
- Without proof of ownership, it can be hard to get USDA help, and the land can be at risk of a forced sale.
- Since the 2018 Farm Bill, heirs can use other documents to show they run the farm and get a farm number.
What It Unlocks
- A farm number, which you need for most USDA programs, including farm loans, disaster assistance, conservation programs, and voting in FSA county committee elections.
- The Heirs’ Property Relending Program, which funds lenders who make loans to help families resolve shared ownership.
- Veteran benefits on top of that, if you qualify. See USDA Veteran Farmer Resources.
How to Get Started
- Gather any papers that show your family’s tie to the land and that you’re the one running the farm. FSA’s guidance for heirs (linked below) lists which documents count.
- Ask your county FSA office about alternative documentation for heirs’ property to set up a farm number.
- For family disagreements over the land, USDA’s Certified Mediation Program can help at low or no cost.
Source: farmers.gov Heirs’ Property Landowners page (updated September 2026). Ask FSA which documents your county office accepts.
