Specialist agricultural legal professionals at Clarke Willmott LLP have reported a surge in enquiries about pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements from farming households, following current authorities modifications to inheritance tax on farm belongings.
With succession planning now a urgent concern, personal consumer and household legislation specialists are seeing elevated demand for authorized recommendation to safeguard farming belongings, making certain they continue to be throughout the household for future generations.
Holly Smith, an affiliate in Clarke Willmott’s household legislation crew, defined that nuptial agreements can play an important function in securing agricultural belongings, together with land, livestock, farming tools, and enterprise pursuits.
“Many farming families recognise the importance of protecting specific assets and ensuring they stay within the family,” she mentioned. “A nuptial agreement can clarify ownership and outline how assets—including future inheritance and business interests—will be managed in the event of a divorce.”
Below authorities plans introduced in October, from April 2026, agricultural and enterprise property belongings as much as £1 million will proceed to obtain full inheritance tax reduction, however something above this threshold might be taxed at an efficient charge of 20%. Farmers warn that these reforms may create extreme monetary challenges and even impression meals manufacturing.
Smith harassed the significance of early authorized planning: “We understand how concerned our agricultural clients are about these new rules. Seeking legal advice now is essential to mitigate risks and protect family assets.”
Past inheritance tax reforms, nuptial agreements are more and more related when bringing the subsequent era into the household enterprise, gifting belongings, organising trusts, or restructuring agricultural enterprises.
“By addressing potential issues in advance, farming families can ensure clarity, reduce the risk of disputes, and preserve their agricultural heritage,” Smith added.
As farming companies navigate these legislative modifications, authorized specialists are advising early motion to safe long-term asset safety and keep away from future uncertainty.
