Agricultural Wills, Probate, & Estate Planning Solicitors
Expert Legal Advice for Farmers, Landowners, and Agricultural Businesses.
Planning for the future of your farm or agricultural business is crucial. Our specialist Wills, Probate, and Estate Planning Solicitors are expanding their offering to include a tailored legal services to support farmers, landowners, and agricultural business owners with succession planning, estate administration, and lasting powers of attorney.
How Can Our Legal Services Support Farming, Agriculture, and Equestrian Professionals in Yorkshire?
We are expanding our Private Client Services to offer expert legal guidance in Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA), and Estate Administration specifically for those involved in farming, agriculture, and equestrian disciplines.
As a Yorkshire-based firm, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities within the agricultural sector. Whether you are a farmer, landowner, or equestrian professional, our bespoke services are designed to help you protect your assets and secure your family’s future—especially in light of the October 2024 budget changes.
Meet Our Agricultural Wills & Probate Specialist Hannah Pedley
Our dedicated Wills & Probate Solicitor, Hannah Pedley, is an expert in private wealth management and succession planning for the farming and equestrian industries. As an equestrian enthusiast, she competes at local, affiliated, and County levels, giving her a deep understanding of the sector’s specific needs.
What Services Can Our Agricultural Wills and Succession Planning Solicitors Assist With?
Planning for the future of your farm or agricultural business is essential to protect your assets, ensure a smooth succession, and minimise tax liabilities.
Our specialist Agricultural Wills & Probate Solicitor, Hannah Pedley, offers a bespoke service to help you structure a long-term succession plan and ensure your farm or business is passed on according to your wishes. Without a valid Will, your estate will be handled under intestacy rules, which may not align with your intentions.
We work closely with our award-winning property and commercial law teams to provide strategic advice on tax reliefs, estate transfers, and asset protection.
Our Agricultural Wills & Succession Planning Services Include:
Farm Will Drafting
Tailored Wills for farmers, landowners, and agricultural business owners to protect your legacy.
Farm Succession Planning & Land Transfers
Guidance on transferring agricultural land, farm ownership, and business assets to the next generation.
Farming Estate Administration
Expert assistance in handling the legal and financial aspects of an agricultural estate after death.
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for Farmers
Advice on setting up an LPA to manage finances and business decisions if you become unable to act.
Trusts for Agricultural Businesses
Strategic trust planning to safeguard your farming assets for future generations.
Our People
Hannah Pedley
Associate Solicitor
Holly Thurlbeck
Apprentice SolicitorBlog
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Frequently Asked Questions
If a person dies without a Will, their estate will pass via a pre-decided set of rules (known as the intestacy rules). This can lead to unwanted individuals inheriting and for the surviving family having to share assets (sometimes resulting in assets having to be sold and the cash proceeds divided). Even if you believe your estate is likely to pass to the person you want under the intestacy rules, it is still worth doing a Will to ensure that this will definitely happen, to direct where your estate will pass if a beneficiary has died before you, and to tax plan effectively. Read our blog “Estate Planning: Do You Need to Review Your Will?”.
Subject to the type of assets and where they are being left, agricultural estates can be entitled to claim Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) (in addition to an individual’s ordinary allowances). Successful planning will take advantage of the reliefs available, reducing any potential tax bill, consider practical ways to facilitate the payment of tax following death, and aim to prevent practical issues in dealing with the running of a farm following death. It is also worth addressing the requirements in order to claim APR or BPR so that these can be dealt with during lifetime to make matters easier for the executors following death.
Yes (in most cases at least, unless it involves transferring shares).
The estate administration process will proceed as with any estate administration but involves the complexity of the transfer (or sale) of the farming business and its assets and the continued management of the farm. Valuations of the farm and its assets will be required and a full declaration to HMRC will be required in order to claim the relevant tax reliefs.
There are various options to suit each individual’s circumstances. These include the possibility of direct gifts and/or trusts both in the Will and during lifetime. Each option has different tax consequences and so all options require careful consideration and tailoring to reflect the individual’s wishes. If an individual has an equestrian business they may be able to claim Business Property Relief. This is not guaranteed and should be considered carefully both during the individual’s lifetime (it may be that upon making some small changes the relief would become available) and by the executors following death.
