Ag Law

Authors: Lori Lynch - Paul Goeringer

While estate planning for Maryland farm operators can be complicated, a conservation easement can be an effective tool to include in your plan. Conservation easements can help reduce the value of a farm estate and ensure the land will continue to be available for agricultural use. Donating a conservation easement is one way to reduce federal and state estate taxes when the value of your estate minus permitted deductions exceeds the current estate tax exemptions. Under current federal and Maryland tax laws, donating a conservation easement to a qualifying group can result in favorable tax deductions.;Lynch, Lori; Goeringer, Paul; Title: Conservation Easements: A Useful Tool for Farm Transition and Estate Planning (FS-974)

Authors: Paul Goeringer - Sima Majnooni

You can take steps to limit your potential liability by understanding your legal obligation or duty to protect visitors and other third parties from foreseeable harm. You also will need to know to whom you owe the duty and what duty others may owe to you. Steps you can take to limit your liability include obtaining insurance, procuring releases, and providing warnings. You should work with a licensed attorney in your area and your insurance agent to identify the tools that will work best for you. Author: Paul Goeringer and Sima Majnooni; Title: Understanding Agricultural Liability: Premise's Liability (FS-1001)

Authors: Lori Lynch - Paul Goeringer

Maryland had established a variety of programs to assist in the preservation of farmland. This fact sheet, revised in December 2014, presents information vital for computing the capital gains tax. Authors: Lori Lynch and Paul Goeringer; Title: Taxes and Land Preservation: Computing the Capital Gains Tax (FS-780)

Authors: Sarah Everhart

Divorce can be financially devastating for a family farm. Protecting the family farm from divorce is possible if farmers plan ahead with a valid prenuptial agreement, understand the legal parameters of marital vs. non-marital property, limit bequests to family members, and are able to come to a voluntary division of marital property, rather than asking a judge to value and divide the assets. Author: Sarah Everhart, Legal Specialist; Title: Protecting the Family Farm in Divorce (FS-1050)

Authors: Mayhah Suri - Paul Goeringer

A conservation easement is a right or power which a landowner gives to a third party. Landowners may choose to donate easements for a variety of reasons, including tax benefits and/ or an interest in land conservation for environmental or other concerns. This guide walks through some legal considerations for landowners interested in leasing land with an easement for agricultural use.