[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6568374,"mediaKeyId","3200072-bd172a861427069a0f698bc13886bca2","parentId",3200072,"title","Register of Wills: Title Clearance Unit has transferred 29 titles in four months but lacks funds to clear many cases","audioSeconds",2055,"startMs",1466000,"endMs",3521000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3200072-bd172a861427069a0f698bc13886bca2&start=1466&end=3521","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3200072-bd172a861427069a0f698bc13886bca2/thumbnail_1466000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6568374/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/Register-of-Wills-Title-Clearance-Unit-has-transferred-29-titles-in-four-months-but-lacks-funds-to-clear-many-cases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568374-630d5972367e800f8057b84e0ed347cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453020&Signature=mC-sV-SGF8MWGJgZWcKSCPz4REd7817-POCL13PTkdXgN37cSALSW-4bp-cv5hsCmGB5Fro~zgjnmGxaJ6Kn4NqXnkz~aGPxJySecxSJnNFOZX6xLhBUZK2Y1T2wnYtjNto-UNliyigpSIBl7V~cc6i9nDNQflJGGF26ZtIBbuWKXwRLtelk5TynI5zbL0EmQoByvO4JC-iL7oqoJcwkX8H61QULQD-zbQ54oJSP1MM-pzXj~XTgTocxTTJL1y2mOUAM9wsoFCdniCuLnXaQYRfLfkrkk3FNCUVFaWSueQP6D57ZCr~U74YTgQo2BfK7ZJS3FXCi9J10hSANXqkirA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Philadelphia City Council","date","2025-05-06T16:11:16.843Z","article","At a Committee of the Whole public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2026 budgets, the Register of Wills’ Title Clearance Unit reported clearing 29 property titles in the past four months and screening more than 100 complex cases, but said many families still cannot afford fees that prevent deed transfer.

Maisha Williams, who runs the office’s title clearance work, told council members: “At this time, our title clearance unit is working with constituents from start to finish with the process of clearing their property titles.” Williams said the unit refers residents who meet income thresholds to community legal-service organizations but directly assists property owners who do not qualify for income‑based legal aid.

The office said one of the primary hurdles is the costs associated with clearing titles: inheritance tax, title reports and delinquent liens. A senior office official told council members the office is “actively seeking funding through grants from nonprofits, financial institutions, and legislative initiatives” to cover those costs for families who are not income‑eligible for traditional legal aid.

Council members and staff discussed program history and options. Officials said a prior program, referred to as the PDI program, deferred some fees but placed liens on properties and has been replaced by the Title Clearance Unit. The office said some estates older than 21 years must begin in Orphans’ Court, which can lengthen and complicate the process.

Council members pressed for state-level responses to fee barriers. Committee members asked the register’s office to produce a list of legislative changes or grant approaches they could pursue with the city’s state delegation — including amnesty or fee‑deferral programs and raising eligibility thresholds for city-funded assistance. Office staff suggested that past state amnesty programs were successful and that creating a legislative or city grant targeted to households above the poverty line could help clear many cases.

Why it matters: Council members described tangled-title cases as a barrier to generational wealth and home preservation, especially in Black and Brown neighborhoods. One council member told the hearing his office’s data showed as many as 10,000 active tangled-title cases citywide.

Other operational details: Williams said the unit has several active cases expected to be ready for deed transfer in the coming months; the unit identified lack of flexible funding for necessary fees as the major slowdown. The Register of Wills’ chief solicitor, Frank Campisi, described efforts to appoint neutral administrators in some intermediary estates so the process can proceed more quickly, but noted outcomes vary by case.

Ending: Council members requested written follow-up on how many cases remain in various backlog categories, what happened to participants in prior programs, and a legislator-ready list of changes the city should seek at the state level.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee of Whole: Budget Hearing 05-05-25 Morning","oneSentenceSummary","Maisha Williams, director of the Register of Wills’ Title Clearance Unit, told the Committee of the Whole her team has transferred 29 property titles in four months and screened over 100 complex cases but needs more funding to cover fees that prevent deed transfer.","taxTitle","Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County , Pennsylvania","taxId",80615,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6568378,"Register of Wills seeks $1.2 million for IT, archives and equipment as office handles Real ID surge",6050,842000,6892000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3200072-bd172a861427069a0f698bc13886bca2&start=842&end=6892","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3200072-bd172a861427069a0f698bc13886bca2/thumbnail_842000.jpg","/articles/6568378/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/Register-of-Wills-seeks-12-million-for-IT-archives-and-equipment-as-office-handles-Real-ID-surge","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568378-56f63ee94c03991d4728dc867881377c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453020&Signature=CgtZJozXFMqbT6HnHlzgGhk2oEVl6bmgJgxHPlJdnPjVwbHb4EVVxVKKxQEQsOPMhzwgRxYlLmXCTaeeVBa5oKAWpaYjx8KJyuQS4aKmmfn6i6zkqQBbEIaVgOG9Lw8JLAAiDjz8LoZXkDSgmsFn182JflW7z8fSurSLSKJ5htjp6mPf1w9f5eljsy4WAoYy~q2F3xwqwrXTXBQlfTm7f6gMBIEKGNQ~CFZidCxrc5Na2Qord-Ou7EN30kPl6jnv-sKpdYBxt9V6SV1OZmRdx18~WCNBucCD8M8k4xx1ZAofMseGnlk2LzkLibchxLNc7hhuV3nB21-MOFDxNqwEYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John P. Sabatina, register of wills and clerk of Orphans’ Court, told the Philadelphia City Council Committee of the Whole that his office is requesting $1,200,000 in additional funding for fiscal 2026 to replace an aging records system, restore archives and update computers.

The request, Sabatina said during a budget hearing, breaks down to $500,000 for a legacy system replacement, $500,000 for an archives restoration project and $150,000 to cover accrued terminal leave for a retiring employee; the office also asked for $100,000 for new computers. “This year, we're asking for $1,200,000,” a senior office official said when summarizing the funding needs.

Why it matters: The Register of Wills manages probate, records and historical documents the office says are increasingly fragile. The department told council members auditors recommended system upgrades for internal controls and record viewing; officials also said a new system would create a public portal for searching and requesting documents.

Officials described the timeline and scope for technology upgrades. Emilio de Gregorio, who identified himself as staff for the register, said the city’s Office of Innovation and Technology is finishing technical specifications and the office expects to release a request for proposals in June. “I think we would release that RFP, hopefully, June,” de Gregorio said. He told council the new system would “give the public full free access to view records, request records, streamline payment processes.”

On archives, the office said prior work included a roughly $300,000, one-year contract for scanning and preservation; auditors and a vendor review found that full restoration of decaying paper records would require “a lot of money,” likely running into the millions. A department finance official said the restoration request is aimed at records in multiple storage locations that are deteriorating.

Operational pressures and Real ID: Council members pressed the office on an increase in walk-in and mail record requests tied to Real ID and passport documentation. The register’s staff said the office normally processes about 40 records a day but has experienced much higher volumes recently and has temporarily staffed up to manage urgent requests. “Any request for urgent matters, we pull to the front of the line,” a department representative said, adding the office had assigned additional staff to handle overflow.

Contracts and diversity: Members asked about consulting and preservation contracts listed in the department budget, including one vendor named Coval Technologies for digitization and preservation work. The office said some contracts were tied to prior fiscal years and that outreach and advertising contracts were evaluated by response and case intake. Staff provided a summary of minority participation, saying about 46% of contract dollars were to diverse or minority vendors in the most recent reporting period.

Staffing and equipment: Council members also asked about computer replacement and staffing cycles. The department said it cycles 20–25 computers every other year and purchased laptops during the pandemic; the request for $100,000 in equipment is intended to overhaul aging machines.

No formal action was taken at the hearing. Council members asked for follow-up information on contracts, minority participation and grant applications referenced in the budget detail.

Ending: Council members flagged the register’s funding requests for follow-up as the council continues review of the city operating and capital proposals for fiscal 2026. The Committee of the Whole scheduled additional budget deliberations in afternoon sessions and asked the office to provide requested backup documents and timelines for the RFP and archives plan.","John P. Sabatina, Philadelphia Register of Wills, told City Council’s Committee of the Whole the office is requesting $1.2 million for fiscal 2026 to replace its legacy system, restore archives and update equipment, and described operational changes to handle a surge in records requests tied to Real ID and other demand.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6568369,"Register of Wills plans 'Legacy and Wealth' 250th exhibit and outreach to show inheritance’s role in Philadelphia history",434,5114000,5548000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3200072-bd172a861427069a0f698bc13886bca2&start=5114&end=5548","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3200072-bd172a861427069a0f698bc13886bca2/thumbnail_5114000.jpg","/articles/6568369/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/Register-of-Wills-plans-Legacy-and-Wealth-250th-exhibit-and-outreach-to-show-inheritances-role-in-Philadelphia-history","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568369-5a67112769fdccaad50142982e4f7d4e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453020&Signature=fQK9BxJ8igqFEQJCgjStv5zH~wkX3-vyR-A4xK036fwWcX-AgG-Sx-8QwLtdr~LU5KnM~CXi69RO4LL-g46Gtu9y1AKSSgF0iCy9dyHZi-1yKonJFhHHRqGCsJBQiskR9nDXHm2x-lBlSXAjtniEqwt4H6ZBJhyU1JFcD9XnEFCglG408ssCgWIFlMO8TO4~CVYSFFufId~EoCNQb7WEMdTomFRl4M09WRgAq8FSKWfxe4Sc8woLaaYUkN0NVpPSN2XJmGXCZT2HDp~pEKnCS3HXQmpYI~F~7SQUcuhgwvPn5i~ffmGaNjMx00fLdSCIasl2~LbB-fO3MLCgtjrKNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Register of Wills’ office presented an initiative titled “Legacy and Wealth: How Inheritance Shaped America” as part of Philadelphia’s 250th-anniversary programming, and asked council members to help build partnerships and outreach for exhibitions, workshops and a statewide tour.

Joe Driscoll, who the register identified as the primary author of the plans, told council members: “Legacy and wealth, how inheritance shaped America, is about how inheritance shaped America, but it's equally is about, who gets left out of that promise.” Driscoll said the program will include a City Hall exhibit, a statewide tour, public workshops, legal-literacy campaigns and community storytelling.

Council members broadly welcomed the proposal and suggested the program address difficult historical topics, including redlining, the legacy of slavery and related federal-policy questions such as the historical discussion around “40 acres and a mule.” Several members recommended that outreach include culturally specific media — for example, the Philadelphia Tribune, the Philadelphia Sunday Sun, WHYY and new outlets such as the Black Information Network — to reach neighborhoods most affected by generational-wealth disparities.

The register’s staff said they have begun outreach to Visit Philadelphia and others. John P. Sabatina said the office has met with Visit Philadelphia and is exploring inclusion of documents and exhibits as part of a larger city celebration. The office also asked for help identifying funders and coalition partners to scale the initiative.

Ending: Council members offered support and said they would help connect the office with potential partners and funding sources for the 2026 programming.","The Register of Wills office described a 'Legacy and Wealth: How Inheritance Shaped America' initiative tied to Philadelphia’s 250th anniversary, proposing a City Hall exhibit, statewide tour, workshops and partnerships with cultural organizations and media outlets to highlight who benefited from generational wealth and who was excluded.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Register of Wills: Title Clearance Unit has transferred 29 titles in four months but lacks funds to clear many cases

Register of Wills seeks $1.2 million for IT, archives and equipment as office handles Real ID surge

Register of Wills plans 'Legacy and Wealth' 250th exhibit and outreach to show inheritance’s role in Philadelphia history