St. Louis American
moneywise NOVEMBER 6 – 12, 2025 • B9
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In the coming years, Baby Boomers are poised to pass down an estimated $17 trillion in home equity to their children, according to a recent Freddie Mac survey.
Protecting generational wealth
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n Financial advisors share their top holiday budgeting tips. ~ Page B11 ~
Plan for the future to secure your family’s most important assets
By StatePoint
Heirs’ property, also referred to as a tangled title, is created when a family member dies without a will or court document passing their property to a specific heir or heirs.
In the coming years, Baby Boomers are poised to pass down an estimated $17 trillion in home equity to their children, according to a recent Freddie Mac survey. But whether or not you’re among the 75% of homeowners in this generation planning to leave your current home or the proceeds from a home sale to family members when they pass away, having a clear estate plan is critical to ensuring your wishes come to fruition. Without one, your future heirs may face complex ownership issues, legal disputes and even the loss of family property. To help your family plan for the future, Freddie Mac is sharing information about some of the pitfalls that occur in the absence of an estate plan, as well as steps you can take to protect the wealth you’ve built over your lifetime.
Tangled titles
Heirs’ property, also referred to as a tangled title, is created when a family member dies without a will or court document passing their property to a specific heir or heirs. When this happens, the property may be transferred by inheritance to multiple family members who each have equal rights to use and occupy the property. Unfortunately, this can lead to messy legal disputes among family members, limited access to resources, and loss of generational wealth due to forced sales or costly legal battles. These disputes are common in this scenario because each heir has shared responsibilities regarding the property. For example, all heirs will be expected to contribute to property-related taxes and upkeep, which can become difficult to
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