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Estate Planning, Business Structures and Succession

Every farming family is unique. When it comes to planning for future generations, our Agriculture and Estates team has the experience to ensure your affairs are carefully and commercially secured in the way you need.

Planning for future farming generations

We work with farming families, farming businesses, estates and private landowners to advise on the transfer of assets down to the next generation in a way that preserves the farm and the farming business.

Our service covers:

  • Preparing wills and advising on inheritance tax
  • Preparing trusts, including those involving land
  • Advising on business structures such as partnerships, companies and being a sole trader
  • Preparing corporate documentation such as incorporation documentation and shareholder agreements
  • Preparing and advising on partnership agreements
  • Advising on Agricultural Holdings Act (AHA) tenancies, including surrender and regrant.

A true understanding of the unique nature of rural business

As specialists in the agricultural sector, our advice is given with a true understanding of farming businesses and the family dynamics that underpin them. We are comfortable advising on diversification, the separation of assets to provide for non-farming children, and the need to keep the farm together so it continues as a viable business.

We’re familiar with working in cooperation with your other advisors, including accountants, surveyors and agents to ensure you get a holistic picture. We can also draw on the expertise of colleagues in the wider firm when required. Our role is always to do whatever’s needed to help you secure successful succession.

 

Hear what our clients say about us

The team is proactive, rather than reactive. Has a fantastic support network to accommodate any specialisms needed across the team, collaborating with difficult/complicated matters, meaning you are always getting the right, and best advice.

They provide seamless cover for any out of office requirements and their communication skills are exemplary, meaning you always know where you are with a transactions/job.

Agriculture and Estates – Legal 500 2024

HCR Hewitsons have been a longstanding partner of our organisation and supporting land acquisitions, disputes and projects of national significance for a number of years.

The firm are able to drill down to the necessary detail of a case quickly and effectively.

Agriculture and Estates – Legal 500 2024

Recognition of our work

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Client story

When a farming family wanted to bring their children into the farming partnership, they turned to the Estate Planning, Business Structures and Succession team for help and assistance with updating their partnership deed.

The team also assisted in updating the family’s wills, and along with their accountants reviewed their inheritance tax position. This review ultimately resulted in the decision to enlarge their farming operations – the team subsequently acted on the purchase of a neighbouring farm, with bank borrowing, to grow the farming enterprise and provide a business which would support the enlarged number of partners and their families going forward.

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