Building on the momentum of the highly successful first installment of the 2026 Elder Justice Summit Series, AARP Virgin Islands, in partnership with the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Human Services, will convene legal, housing, judicial, and policy leaders for Part II: Probate Reform & Housing Stability on July 23, on St. Croix, and July 24, on St. Thomas 2026.
The session is designed as a professional and policy-focused convening to explore the critical connections among probate systems, housing stability, heirs’ property, and the preservation of generational wealth.
For many Virgin Islands families, a home represents more than shelter—it embodies history, stability, and the promise of passing opportunity from one generation to the next. Yet unresolved probate matters, unclear property ownership, and outdated systems can create barriers that place families at risk of losing inherited property and limit opportunities for economic security.
The Probate Reform & Housing Stability session will bring together attorneys, judicial representatives, preservationists, legislators, housing professionals, record-of-deeds experts, Legal Services representatives, and policymakers to engage in meaningful dialogue on solutions to strengthen property rights, improve housing outcomes, and modernize probate processes throughout the Territory. The event reflects a broader effort to advance conversations around probate reform and systems modernization while supporting long-term protection for older adults and families.
This session will feature a keynote presentation by Tina Smith Nelson, Esq., Senior Managing Attorney with Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE), an affiliate of AARP, where she leads the Economic and Healthcare Security Practice Group and oversees projects focused on public benefits, veterans’ advocacy, probate and estate planning, and legal services for homebound older adults. Ms. Nelson founded LCE’s Probate and Estate Planning Project and played a key role in recent probate reform efforts in the District of Columbia. A nationally recognized speaker on probate, estate planning, and heirs’ property issues, Nelson brings extensive experience in advancing policies and programs that help older adults and families protect their assets, preserve generational wealth, and strengthen long-term housing and financial security.
Following a keynote presentation by Tina Smith Nelson, Esq., Senior Managing Attorney with AARP Foundation’s Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE), participants will engage in a dynamic multidisciplinary panel discussion featuring leaders from the legal, judicial, housing, preservation, and economic development sectors. panelists will share their expertise and frontline perspectives on the challenges and opportunities affecting property ownership, inheritance, and housing stability in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Together, they will examine emerging probate reform initiatives, identify opportunities for modernization and increased access to justice, and explore innovative strategies to preserve family assets, expand housing security, and strengthen generational wealth.
Designed to move beyond discussion, the session will foster collaboration among stakeholders and generate actionable solutions to help ensure that Virgin Islands families can more effectively protect and transfer their homes, land, and legacy for generations to come.
“Protecting older adults requires us to look beyond individual cases and examine the systems that shape long-term security and stability,” said Pamela Toussaint, Associate State Director of Advocacy and Outreach for AARP Virgin Islands. “Issues surrounding probate, heirs’ property, and housing have a direct impact on families’ ability to preserve assets, build wealth, and age with dignity. This session creates an opportunity for professionals to work together toward solutions that can benefit our communities for generations to come.”
Part II represents the second installment of the three-part 2026 Elder Justice Summit Series, a coordinated initiative designed to elevate elder justice as a policy, systems, and community priority across the Virgin Islands. The series was intentionally structured to engage different audiences while strengthening stakeholder collaboration, advancing practical policy discussions, and creating a framework for ongoing action and reform.
Following the Probate Reform & Housing Stability session, the series will conclude in August with the Elder Financial Exploitation & Fraud Prevention Forum, which will focus on enforcement coordination, reporting systems, and institutional responses to financial abuse and fraud affecting older adults.
Please note: This event is specifically designed for professionals and policy stakeholders. Participation is limited to professionals, government representatives, policy stakeholders, and partner organizations.
To register: https://qr.aarp.org/ProbateReform
