Agri and Estates

Farm Succession Planning

Helping you pass your farm to the next generation

For many farming families, succession is about far more than deciding who inherits the farm. It is about passing your farm to the next generation, protecting a way of life and helping your business continue to thrive for years to come.

Every family is different. Some have a clear plan in place, while others find conversations about the future difficult to start. Without careful farm succession planning, uncertainty can lead to disputes, unnecessary tax liabilities and disruption to the farming business.

Our Agri and Estates team advises farming families, landowners and rural businesses across England and Wales on farm succession planning, family farm succession and farming inheritance planning. We help clients put practical, legally robust plans in place that reflect both family circumstances and commercial objectives.

Farm succession planning is about more than making a will, so what’s the plan?

A professionally prepared will is an important part of succession planning, but it is only one piece of the picture.

A successful succession plan may also involve:

Taking a joined-up approach helps ensure your legal arrangements work together, reducing uncertainty and helping to protect both your family and your farming business for future generations.

Balancing family expectations with the future of the business

Passing a farm to the next generation is rarely straightforward. Different family members may have different expectations, not everyone may work within the business and circumstances often change over time.

Effective family farm succession requires careful planning and open conversations. By putting the right legal arrangements in place early, you can provide clarity, reduce the risk of future disputes and help safeguard both family relationships and the long-term success of the business.

Whether you are planning for retirement, reviewing existing arrangements or considering the impact of recent inheritance tax changes, we provide practical advice tailored to your family’s circumstances and long-term objectives.

Our farm succession planning services

Our Agri and Estates team advises on every aspect of farm succession planning, including:

We regularly work alongside accountants, land agents and other professional advisers to ensure every aspect of your succession planning is aligned.

Why choose Burnetts?

We have one of the largest dedicated Agri and Estates teams in England and Wales.

While our roots are firmly in Cumbria, we advise farming families, landed estates and rural businesses across England and Wales. Our lawyers combine specialist legal expertise with a practical understanding of the legal, commercial and personal challenges involved in passing farms and estates from one generation to the next.

We know that successful succession planning is about more than legal documents. It is about protecting relationships, preserving family businesses and helping future generations build on what has been created.

Speak to our Agri and Estates team

Whether you are starting to think about passing your farm to the next generation, reviewing an existing succession plan or responding to recent inheritance tax changes affecting farming families, our Agri and Estates team is here to help.

We will take the time to understand your family, your business and your objectives, providing practical legal advice that helps protect your farm, your family and your future. Just get in touch and we’ll be happy to help you.Â