‘It is probably going to be foreclosed': Advocates say Fulton County jeopardizes heirs’ longtime family homes

Malyndia Brown is working to preserve the home her family has owned since the 1970s in Southwest Atlanta. Although advocates say state law makes her eligible for a homestead exemption, Fulton County has denied her the property tax break and sent her bills totaling about $10,000. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)

Malyndia Brown never imagined it would be so hard to preserve her family’s longtime home. 

She first moved back to the three-bedroom brick house in Southwest Atlanta’s Westview neighborhood about 15 years ago to care for her parents. She looked after her stepdad until he died in his 90s and then spent several more years helping her mom as her dementia was advancing.

Brown was so busy with her caretaker role that she didn’t get around to settling her parents’ wills until both had died.