The Arizona homestead exemption is automatic, meaning that no written claim is required. It involves completing a form and submitting it to the county recorder's office.To be eligible for the Arizona Homestead Protection, a person must be at least eighteen years old and reside within the state of Arizona. You can search for their homestead records (up to 1908) at the Heritage Center for free. Many African Americans, including women, managed to file and "prove up" (fulfill legal requirements) on claims. Individuals, including immigrants, women and former slaves, were eligible for the 160 acres. Any person eighteen years of age or over, married or single, who resides within this state may hold as a homestead exempt from execution and forced sale. As a Black woman and as either a slave or former slave, she could not own land in the Oregon Territory.
