Tangled Titles Stall Springfield Vacant Property Fixes

A conference in Western Massachusetts examined how unresolved ownership after owner deaths is holding back blighted homes.

Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Residential

Tangled Titles Stall Springfield Vacant Property Fixes

Live Poll

Do you think your local government does enough to help families keep inherited homes?

Western New England University School of Law and the CATIC Foundation hosted a conference on tangled home titles in Western Massachusetts. Tangled titles caused by owner deaths are present in about a third of blighted properties subject to state Attorney General action.

Why it matters

Tangled titles hinder efforts to alter mortgages, apply for tax abatements, and seek home repair programs. Springfield's city strategy is shifting from opportunistic property acquisition to a whole-block approach.

Between 1.9% and 3.5% of Springfield homes, about 1,128 houses, have deceased owners, and the median property has been without a living owner for five years. Tangled titles appear in roughly a third of blighted properties subject to state Attorney General action.

The players

Western New England University School of Law

A Springfield-based law school that co-hosted the conference on tangled home titles.

CATIC Foundation

The charitable arm of CATIC, a title insurance company, that co-hosted the conference.

Thomas Mitchell

A legal scholar who authored model legislation on untangling heirs' property that has been adopted by 27 states.

The details

Dina Fein, a retired Massachusetts Housing Court judge, and Thomas Mitchell, who wrote model heirs' property legislation adopted by 27 states, were involved in the discussion. The Massachusetts Legislature has considered but not passed the heirs' property proposal.

Friday: Conference on tangled titles held in Western Massachusetts
2014 to 2020: Springfield municipal tax foreclosures reviewed
Coming years: State seeks to add more than 220,000 homes

Market Landscape

Massachusetts has considered but not passed heirs' property legislation, while 27 states have adopted the model law written by Thomas Mitchell. The state's goal of adding more than 220,000 homes in coming years makes resolving tangled titles a practical part of housing supply.

Homeowners and heirs in Springfield may find it difficult to refinance, apply for tax abatements, or access repair programs while property titles remain tangled. Families dealing with a deceased owner's home should begin resolving ownership as early as possible.

The takeaway

Resolving who legally owns a home after an owner dies is a practical first step toward keeping property occupied and out of blight. Heirs should consult a probate or real estate attorney early to clear title before problems compound.