The Illinois Farmer’s Annual Legal Checklist: What to Review Each Season can help farm owners address legal and business issues before they become expensive problems. Farming rarely leaves much time for paperwork, but contracts, leases, insurance policies, employment records, succession plans, and business filings should not be ignored until a dispute or emergency occurs. Dividing these reviews by season can …
Originally published in the Illinois State Bar Association Rural Practice Newsletter (October 2025 Issue). Reprinted with permission. Understanding the Rural Legal Desert Across the United States, access to justice remains an ongoing challenge in rural America. A 2025 Iowa State University study found that over half of all non-metropolitan counties now qualify as “legal deserts”—areas with fewer than one private-practice …
Access to financing is essential for today’s farmers, whether it’s to buy seed, livestock, new machinery, or even farmland itself. But before committing to a loan, it’s important to understand the risks and obligations involved. Below, we share what every farmer needs to know about farm agreements in Illinois. Farm credit contracts can affect not only your financial stability but …
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 …
Equitable distribution (“ED”) is the allocation of the marital estate in a divorce. Importantly, not all states are equitable distribution states; instead, states like Texas and California are community property states. The majority of states are equitable distribution states, but it is important to confirm this with a licensed attorney in the applicable jurisdiction. In way of background, property in …
Many times clients contact me on a child support matter who own farms and, accordingly, have expensive farm equipment. Farmers usually take deductions on the depreciation of expensive equipment on their tax returns. This MAY affect child support, as a trial court has discretion to include nonrecurring income in calculating net income for child support purposes. See In Re Marriage of …
For farmers purchasing land is not always an option or the best option for their purpose. In those cases, leasing land may be a better option. For leasing land, there are multiple options: 1. Cash-Rent Leases: A cash rent lease is where the tenant usually pays a fixed dollar amount in rent and it may be modified based on crop …
Brrrr… There is a blizzard here in New York City right now so I’m blogging away! I will be Tweeting (@CariRincker) and Snapping (CariRincker) about the NYC snowstorm once I venture outside! Stay warm… hot chocolate time! Here is the video for the Lawline presentation that I gave in December regarding livestock animal welfare law in New York. I first …
I will be moderating this upcoming CLE for the American Bar Association (“ABA”) General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division’s Agriculture Law Committee on December 9th on Common Equine Contracts. I’m super excited to have equine law attorneys Julie Fershtman, Thomas Nicholl, and Avery Chapman on board to present on this very useful topic. We will be discussing the following …