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Heirs Property and Family Support
Community Support • St. Helena Island
Property Tax Education & Early Payment Program
Marshview delivers practical, early-stage support that helps residents understand property taxes, correct common tax-rate errors, and reduce delinquency risk—while connecting families to trusted partners for heirs’ property and estate planning support when legal guidance is needed.
Program overview
Property taxes—especially when handled late—can become a primary driver of land loss for families on St. Helena Island. Marshview’s volunteer-led program meets residents early in the tax cycle to review bills, clarify responsibilities, and address classification issues that can unnecessarily increase what households owe.
What residents receive
- Early-payment guidance to help prevent sharp increases and late-season penalties.
- Tax-rate problem-solving when a home is classified incorrectly (commonly, 6% instead of 4%).
- Support accessing eligible reductions, including senior and homestead-related savings.
- Warm referrals to trusted legal and cultural partners for heirs’ property tax and family estate planning.
Paying property taxes before they become delinquent can protect land from being auctioned, but paying taxes does not create ownership. Ownership is established through legal steps such as deed work or probate—this is why Marshview pairs tax navigation with partner referrals.
Common cost drivers they address
- Incorrect classification: Some owner-occupied homes may qualify for 4% instead of 6%, depending on county requirements.
- Missing exemptions: Older adults may qualify for meaningful reductions but may not have applied.
- Outdated records: Property can be taxed incorrectly if you do fail to update county records.
Trusted partners (heirs’ property & legal support)
When families need support beyond the tax bill—especially after an elder passes—Marshview refers residents to organizations with specialized capacity in heirs’ property education, probate navigation, and land retention.
Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation
Provides legal services and education to help families resolve heirs’ property challenges, reduce risk of land loss, and strengthen clear ownership pathways.
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Lowcountry Gullah Foundation (Luana M. Graves Sellars)
Supports Gullah Geechee cultural continuity while helping families understand land, legacy, and the planning steps that protect intergenerational property.
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Lowcountry Legal Volunteers
Mobilizes volunteer legal capacity to expand access to legal guidance and services, including support that can help families move forward on ownership and documentation needs.
Visit website
Request assistance / sign up
For help reviewing a bill, confirming next steps, or learning the next Penn Center tax help date, email:
Tip: Include your name, best phone number, and (if available) your parcel number or a photo of your bill.
Support this program
Marshview’s model pairs early, high-trust community navigation with targeted referrals—reducing preventable delinquency and helping families access the right office, form, and partner at the right time. Contributions strengthen outreach, transportation support for elders, follow-up tracking, and resident workshops that build long-term planning habits.
Donate to Support Property Tax AssistanceFunding helps sustain a prevention-first approach—before bills grow, penalties accrue, or properties enter the delinquency pipeline.
Marshview provides education and navigation support and is not a substitute for legal advice.