Food and Agricultural Law Blog

Can a Trust Keep the Family Farm Out of Probate in Illinois? In many situations, yes, but simply signing a trust document is not enough. For a trust to accomplish its intended purpose, the farm assets that are supposed to be governed by the trust generally need to be properly transferred or otherwise connected to the estate plan. That distinction ... Read More The post Can a Trust Keep the Family Farm Out of Probate in Illinois? appeared first on Rincker Law, PLLC.

Farm Prenups in Illinois: Can a Prenuptial Agreement Protect the Family Farm? For someone who owns farmland, works in a multigenerational farming operation, or expects to inherit an interest in the family farm, a prenuptial agreement can address questions that go far beyond who gets what in a divorce. It can help a couple clarify ownership, protect family expectations, coordinate ... Read More The post Farm Prenups in Illinois: Can a Prenuptial Agreement Protect the Family Farm? appeared first on Rincker Law, PLLC.

When Siblings Inherit the Family Farm and Disagree: Can Mediation Keep the Farm Together? It is a question many agricultural families face after the death of a parent or grandparent. One sibling may have spent decades working on the farm and want to continue the operation. Another may live out of state and prefer to sell. A third may want ... Read More The post When Siblings Inherit the Family Farm and Disagree: Can Mediation Keep the Farm Together? appeared first on Rincker Law, PLLC.

Can Mediation Resolve Illinois Farm Boundary, Drainage, Easement, and Access Disputes? For farmers and agricultural landowners, a disagreement with a neighbor can become much more than a strained relationship. A disputed property line can affect where crops are planted. A blocked access route can interfere with equipment movement. Drainage changes can affect productive acreage. An easement disagreement can create uncertainty ... Read More The post Can Mediation Resolve Illinois Farm Boundary, Drainage, Easement, and Access Disputes? appeared first on Rincker Law, PLLC.

Farm estate and succession planning is rarely just about documents. For many agricultural families, it involves land, business ownership, family relationships, retirement, taxes, livestock, equipment, management responsibilities—and the deeply personal question of what happens to a farm or ranch that may have taken generations to build. That is why Cari Rincker, founder of Rincker Law, PLLC, is conducting an updated ... Read More The post Help Shape the Future of Farm Estate Planning: Take Cari Rincker’s Updated National Survey appeared first on Rincker Law, PLLC.