Agricultural law

For a business or individual in the agricultural sector, we are a full-service firm covering all legal needs from corporate law, employment issues, property, wills and succession planning and divorce

Speak to an expert

Call us: 0161 475 7676

What we offer

All agricultural law needs under one roof

Whether you are a farmer, landowner or investor, the law around agriculture can be complex.
Our Legal 500 and Chambers ranked team of agricultural law solicitors can provide you with jargon-free advice, specialist expertise and clear pricing to help guide you through the minefield that is agricultural law.
We work with a wide range of clients from small family farms to large corporate investors so no matter how complex your case, you will always receive the highest standard of legal advice.

 

How our agricultural law solicitors can help

We have agricultural expertise across our firm to help not only your business but also you and your family. Our services include:

When working with clients our team always take the time to understand your business and family circumstances as well as the legal matter. This way we can make sure any legal advice is tailored to you personally and provides the best outcome for you and your business.

When it comes to pricing, we help our clients determine a pricing structure that suits their individual needs. We are also transparent and will discuss any costs with you at the outset so that you don’t receive any unexpected bills.

 

Our team

We are also members of the Countryside Land and Business Association (CLA) and Agricultural Law Association (ALA); our property partner James Goddard launched the Cheshire division of the ALA. Through these organisations, we have access to a wealth of experience and knowledge within the agricultural sector.

We are ranked highly in both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners legal directories.

Why work with us

Why choose SAS Daniels for agricultural law support?

Our team comprises specialists in many different areas of the law so you can be assured all your legal needs will be taken care of, whether business or personal. All team members are sector specialists and have a friendly and approachable manner.

Agricultural frequently asked questions

View the most frequently asked agricultural questions that we get at SAS Daniels.
  • Will my farmhouse qualify for relief from inheritance tax?

    This depends on the circumstances of your particular farm; the size of the farmhouse compared to the size of the farm and whether it is ‘character appropriate’ e.g. is the farmhouse a working farmhouse, or is it a large townhouse which happens to be on a farm.
  • What happens if I don’t have a will?

    If you don’t have a will, your estate will be distributed in accordance with the intestacy rules, which set out in strict terms who in your family should benefit. This may mean that it doesn’t go to the people you want it to, or, potentially worse, it goes to people you don’t want it to. Where you are farming in a partnership but don’t have a written agreement, this can also cause issues when deciding what should form part of the farming partnership and what should fall under the intestacy rules. This uncertainty usually causes family arguments which are often avoidable by having an up-to-date will in place.
  • Will the farm have to be sold in a divorce?

    It’s rare for the court to order a sale of the entire farm. The court will consider if part can be sold off without affecting the viability of the farming business to meet the other party’s needs. The court does however have power to make an order for the farm to be sold.
  • Why do I need a written partnership agreement?

    Without a good partnership agreement, you’re opening yourselves up to real problems and cost when there is a disagreement in the future. Even if there are no disagreements, by structuring the partnership in the right way you will also be able to maximise relief from inheritance tax. We recommend that you sit down with an expert and decide what should be part of the partnership assets, how profit should be allocated each year and what should happen when a partner dies or decides to leave.
  • I own 70 acres of land which I rent out. Because I do not farm it myself, is the land subject to inheritance tax when I die and if so, is there anything I can do about it?

    If the land is part of a working farm, it is likely to qualify for Agricultural Property Relief, either in part or in full, which could save inheritance tax even where you are renting it out. The qualification for Agricultural Property Relief is that you must have owned it for at least seven years before you die. If you have been renting it out since before September 1st 1995 it may only qualify for 50% relief. Inheritance tax is a complicated area so it is always advisable to seek legal advice.

Get in touch

Please fill in the contact form and one of our team will be in touch as soon as we can. Our working hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm.

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