Protect the farm, the business and everyone involved
Farming partnerships often grow informally, with land, machinery, labour and money shared across generations. That can work well until someone retires, dies, separates or wants to leave. A clear partnership agreement protects the farm, records what belongs to whom and gives everyone certainty.
Our agricultural solicitors create practical agreements built around your business, family and plans for the years ahead with confidence.
Commercial
Personal
- Administration of Estates
- Adoption
- Appeals before the First Tier and Upper Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)
- Applications to join British or settled residents
- Applying for British citizenship
- Applying for Probate
- Buy to let
- Buying a home
- Changing Your Name
- Civil Partnerships
- cohabitation agreements
- Contentious probate
- Conveyancing
- Court of Protection
- Disputes involving children
- Divorce
- Domestic abuse
- Employment law
- Equity release
- Family Law
- Financial Remedy Proceedings
- Financial settlements
- First registration
- Human Rights applications
- Immigration law
- Indefinite Leave to Remain
- Inheritance Disputes
- Inheritance tax planning
- Landlord and tenant
- Lease extensions
- Litigation and dispute resolution
- Managing a trust
- Military Hearing Loss
- Powers of Attorney
- Prenuptial agreements
- Remortgaging
- Selling your home
- Seperation agreements
- Setting up a Trust
- Transfer of Equity
- Unmarried Couples
- Visitor visas to the UK
- Wills, trust and probate
- Work visas and sponsorship
- Writing a Will
Commercial
- Can you explain the new inheritance tax laws to me?
- What is commercial litigation?
- What do I do about tenants sub-letting?
- How many specialities does your team have?
- How long have you been practising in this field?
- What are the laws on paternity leave?
- Can you help me decide on insolvency for my company?
- Will my trademark stand in EMEA?
- How long does a merger take?
- How do I protect myself from negligence?
- I have a question on property litigation
Personal
- What time should I allow for conveyancing?
- How are assets split in a divorce?
- I think I was unfairly dismissed - can you help?
- What are your main Family Law services?
- Immigration laws have changed - help!
- My landlord has just sold the property - what are my rights?
- I've been served an eviction notice - please help!
- My neighbour is claiming my land - who is right?
- I have tinitus from army service - can I get compensation?
- Can you adivise on probate?
Why a farming partnership agreement matters
Without a written agreement, assumptions about ownership, profit shares, responsibilities and succession can become difficult to unravel. Land may be used by the partnership without belonging to it, machinery may have been bought by different family members and working arrangements may have changed over time. We establish the true position, identify the risks and put clear terms in place before uncertainty threatens the business, its value or family relationships much later.
How we can
help you
We prepare, review and update farming partnership agreements around the way your business actually operates. We can clarify ownership, contributions, profit shares, responsibilities and decision-making, while planning for new partners, retirement, incapacity, death or separation. We also advise on disputes, restructuring and dissolution, working alongside your accountant and financial advisers where appropriate and when needed.
Why choose CWC Solicitors
Farming partnerships bring together land, business and family interests, often built up over generations. Our agricultural solicitors understand how closely those issues are connected and why the agreement must work in practice, not simply on paper. You will receive direct advice, careful drafting and a clear plan designed to protect the farm’s value, continuity and everyone whose future depends upon it for years to come.
Frequently asked questions
Still unsure or need something explained in more detail? Contact us, and we’ll guide you through it.
1. What is a farming partnership?
A farming partnership exists when two or more people carry on a farming business together with a view to profit. Partners may contribute land, labour, machinery, capital or expertise and share profits, responsibilities, liabilities and decisions.
2. What are the benefits of farming partnerships?
A partnership combines land, labour, capital and experience, spreads risk and creates a structure for managing and passing on the farm.
3. How do I form a farming partnership?
Start by agreeing what each partner will contribute, how profits will be divided and how decisions will be made. A solicitor can then prepare the partnership agreement clearly, while your accountant advises on the financial and tax implications.
4. Do farming partnerships need a written agreement?
No. A farming partnership can exist without a written agreement, but relying on an informal arrangement can create significant uncertainty. Without agreed terms, statutory partnership rules may apply instead, which may not reflect how the farm is actually owned or operated. A written agreement gives clarity over land and assets, profit shares, responsibilities, decision-making and what happens if a partner retires, dies or leaves the business.
5. What should a farming partnership agreement include?
The agreement should cover ownership of land and assets, capital contributions, profit shares, drawings, responsibilities and decision-making. It should also explain what happens when a partner joins, retires, dies, becomes incapacitated or wants to leave, and how disagreements will be resolved.
6. Who owns the land and assets used by a farming partnership?
Land, machinery and other assets used by the farm do not necessarily belong to the partnership. They may be owned personally by one or more partners and made available to the business. The agreement should record the ownership position clearly, as this can affect succession, tax, borrowing and what happens when the partnership ends.
7. What happens if farming partners disagree?
The agreement should contain a process for resolving disagreements and decision-making deadlocks. Depending on the issue, this may involve negotiation, mediation, arbitration or court proceedings. Taking advice early can help protect the farm and prevent a disagreement from causing lasting damage to the business or family relationships.
8. How can solicitors assist with farming partnerships?
Our agricultural solicitors can assist with all aspects of farming partnerships, including:
- Preparing, reviewing and updating farming partnership agreements.
- Clarifying ownership of land, property, machinery and livestock.
- Recording capital contributions, responsibilities and decision-making powers.
- Bringing new partners into the farming business.
- Planning for retirement, incapacity, succession or death.
- Working alongside tax, accountancy and financial advisers.
- Resolving disagreements and partnership breakdowns.
- Restructuring or dissolving the partnership.
Related services
Land acquisition and development
Buying or developing agricultural land can create opportunity and risk. We investigate title, occupation, access and restrictions before they compromise your wider plans.
Agricultural landlord and tenant
Agricultural tenancy agreements can affect the farm business, the property and, in some cases, the family home. We advise landlords and tenants on terms, statutory rights, succession, rent, repairs and termination, helping protect each party’s position from the outset.
LET'S TALK
Contact us in confidence