For many families in Illinois, the farm is more than just land, it’s a livelihood, a legacy, and a way of life. When financial struggles hit, one of the biggest fears farmers face is losing the family farm to foreclosure. Can the bank really take my family farm? What Illinois farmers need to know is that the answer depends on …
Business Structure Options for Farms in Illinois: LLCs, Partnerships, and Corporations
Business Structure Options for Farms in Illinois: LLCs, Partnerships, and CorporationsBusiness Structure Options for Farms in Illinois: LLCs, Partnerships, and CorporationsRunning a successful farm is not only about planting crops and raising livestock, but also about protecting your assets and planning for the future. Business structure options for farms in Illinois: LLCs, partnerships, and corporations to protect farmland and operations …
What Are the Common Issues in a Farm Divorce in Illinois?
Divorce is never easy, but when a family farm is involved, the legal and financial stakes can become even more complicated. Many farmers facing separation wonder: what are the common issues in a farm divorce in Illinois? From dividing farmland and business operations to valuing equipment, debts, and inheritance, the process brings unique challenges. Because farmland often represents both income …
Can My Spouse Force the Sale of Our Family Farm in a Divorce?
Divorce is challenging under any circumstances, but when farm property is involved, the legal and financial stakes become even higher. Many farm families in Illinois ask a pressing question: Can my spouse force the sale of our family farm in a divorce? In this blog, we share how Illinois divorce law treats farm assets, what options you may have if …
Why Illinois Farm Families Need Outsourced General Counsel: Protecting Land, Legacy, and Business
Running a family farm today involves far more than planting crops and raising livestock. Illinois farmers are expected to manage land, negotiate leases, comply with ever-changing regulations, and make sound business decisions — often while juggling multi-generational family dynamics. When unexpected legal issues arise, many farmers scramble to find help, only to be left with expensive hourly bills or lawyers …
Dividing the Family Farm in an Illinois Divorce: What Every Farmer Should Know
Divorce is never easy, but when farmland, equipment, and agricultural businesses are involved, the process becomes even more complicated. The family farm is not just an asset—it’s a home, a livelihood, and often a legacy passed down through generations. In this article, Dividing the Family Farm in an Illinois Divorce: What Every Farmer Should Know, we share how Illinois courts …
Buying or Leasing Farm Equipment in Illinois: Legal Tips for Protecting Your Investment
For many Illinois farmers, equipment is one of the largest and most important investments they make. Whether you’re purchasing a new tractor, leasing harvesters, or upgrading irrigation systems, these deals often involve significant financial commitments. In this article, Buying or Leasing Farm Equipment in Illinois: Legal Tips for Protecting Your Investment, we share key legal and financial considerations to help …
Should You Form an LLC for Your Farm? A Guide for Illinois Agricultural Businesses
For Illinois farmers, protecting your land, equipment, and livelihood isn’t just about good crops, it’s about having the right legal foundation. In this article, “Should You Form an LLC for Your Farm? A Guide for Illinois Agricultural Businesses”, we explain how forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) can safeguard your personal assets, streamline ownership, and position your farm for long-term …
How to Legally Structure Your Illinois Farm Business for Growth and Protection
Choosing the right legal structure for your farm isn’t just about paperwork, it can affect your taxes, liability, succession planning, and even your eligibility for certain programs. In this article, How to Legally Structure Your Illinois Farm Business for Growth and Protection, we share the pros and cons of common farm business structures in Illinois so you can select the …
How to Pass Down the Family Farm in Illinois Without a Legal Battle
For many Illinois farm families, the land is more than just soil and crops, it’s a legacy built over generations. Unfortunately, without the right legal planning, that legacy can be torn apart by disputes, probate delays, and tax burdens. In this article, How to Pass Down the Family Farm in Illinois Without a Legal Battle, we share key strategies for …
Divorce and the Family Farm in Illinois: What Every Spouse Should Know
Divorce is never easy, and when a farm is involved, things get a lot more complicated. In this blog, Divorce and the Family Farm in Illinois: What Every Spouse Should Know, we explain how agricultural assets are treated during divorce in Illinois, how to protect your family’s legacy, and why working with a lawyer who understands both divorce and farm …
How Illinois Farmers Can Keep the Family Farm in the Family
For generations, farms across Illinois have been passed down from parent to child. But today, many families are asking the same big question: “How can I keep the farm in the family and ensure a smooth transition to the next generation?” Estate and succession planning is essential for any business owner—but it’s especially important for farmers. Unlike other industries, farms …