**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROPOSAL ADDRESSES THREE PRESSING ISSUES IN MANY PARTS OF RURAL AMERICA: THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP, PERSISTENT POVERTY, AND HEIRS' PROPERTY. HEIRS' PROPERTY OFTEN ARISES BECAUSE SOMEONE DIES WITHOUT A WILL (INTESTATE) WHICH RESULTS IN TENANCY IN COMMON THROUGH AN INTER-GENERATIONAL TRANSFER OF PROPERTY. RECENTLY, AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF ATTENTION HAS CENTERED ON THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP, PRIMARILY CONCENTRATING ON AFRICAN AMERICANS. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS INCREASED ATTENTION, THERE HAS BEEN A RISING AMOUNT OF INTELLECTUAL RESOURCES DIRECTED TO HEIRS' PROPERTY ISSUES THAT PLAGUE SPECIFIC POPULATIONS AND GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES. LOGIC SUGGESTS THAT MANY OF THE FACTORS THAT AFFECT A RACIAL WEALTH GAP WOULD BE EVIDENT IN PERSISTENT POVERTY AND, THUS, THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THESE TWO CHRONIC SITUATIONS IS CONSISTENT AND STRONG. IN ADDITION, IT IS REASONABLE TO THINK THAT GENERATIONAL WEALTH INHIBITORS, SUCH AS HEIRS' PROPERTY, WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO CONTINUED POVERTY AND BE A BARRIER TO WEALTH/ASSET ACCUMULATION. FAMILIES WITH HEIRS' PROPERTY FACE A NEUTRALIZATION OF A POTENTIAL ASSET THAT STUNTS WEALTH ACCUMULATION AND EVEN MAY BE A DRAIN ON WEALTH. THUS, THE PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH ACTIVITY IS TWO-FOLD: I) IDENTIFY A PATH TO ADDRESS THE CYCLE OF POVERTY THAT CONNECTS HEIRS' PROPERTY, POVERTY, A RACIAL WEALTH GAP, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND II) INVESTIGATE OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH RESOLVING HEIRS' PROPERTY OWNERSHIP. USING RESEARCH RESULTS, A CONCENTRATED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM IS DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED TO ADDRESS HEIRS' PROPERTY ISSUES AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PERSISTENT POVERTY FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.