For some people, homeownership is all about financial benefits. But to Rose Marie Crisp, it means so much more.

For her, owning a home is about independence and freedom; the ability to personalize her living space and take care of her family.

Until recently, Ms. Crisp could only dream of having a place to call her own. That was until she contacted the Title Clearance Unit (TCU) at the Philadelphia Register of Wills office, which helped her get a new deed for the West Oak Lane rowhome she inherited from her life partner three years ago.

“This is my first home. (In the past) I either had an apartment, a room, or I lived with people. I never had something that I could call mine,” Ms. Crisp says. “I am so blessed that I got a chance to see what it feels like to be a homeowner.”

Title Clearance Benefits Families and Community

Register of Wills John P. Sabatina, Esq., created the TCU in 2024 with the support of City Council members including Cindy Bass, who represents the neighborhood where Ms. Crisp lives. The TCU’s mission is to help people who inherited their home but never changed the name on the title. As a result, the properties have “tangled titles.”

“Our work is extremely important to individual families and to the city as a whole,” Register Sabatina says. “Homeownership is one of the main ways we can protect our wealth and pass it on to our children. We refer to that as generational wealth, which is absolutely essential for community-building.”

Ms. Crisp is among dozens of city residents the TCU has assisted since late last year. Now that she has full access to all the benefits of homeownership, Ms. Crisp has been working with Councilmember Bass’ staff to identify home improvement incentive and property tax relief programs. And she’s thinking of the future.

“I’m a family-oriented person. I love to be around my family,” she says. “It’s going to be a family home.”