We’ve Been Meaning to Do Farm Succession Planning… But Where Do We Even Start?

For many farm families, the hardest part of succession planning isn’t understanding why it matters.

It’s figuring out how to begin.

You may have talked about it at the kitchen table. You may have said, “We should really get this figured out someday.” You may even agree that it’s important. But when you try to imagine the first step, it can feel unclear, overwhelming, or emotionally loaded. That uncertainty often leads to delay—not because you don’t care, but because you don’t know where to start.

The truth is, most farm families feel this way. And agricultural educators, extension programs, and legal experts all agree on something reassuring: you don’t start with paperwork. You start with clarity and conversation.

Start with vision, not legal documents

A common misconception is that succession planning begins in an attorney’s office. In reality, it begins long before that—with a simple question:

What do we want the future of this farm to look like?

Succession planning begins with identifying long-term goals for the farm and the family, not drafting legal instruments. The legal pieces come later, after the direction is clear.

This step often includes thinking through questions like:

• Does someone in the next generation want to farm?

• What role should each family member play in the future?

• What does “fair” look like to our family?

• You don’t need perfect answers. You only need a starting point.

Farm land above - fielding crops

Then move into honest family conversations

Farm succession planning is often described as difficult not because of legal complexity, but because it involves family relationships. The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension notes that working through business planning and goal setting together can actually improve communication and reduce tension, because it gives everyone a shared framework to talk through concerns.

These conversations don’t need to be formal. They simply need to be intentional. They allow everyone to share hopes, hesitations, and expectations before assumptions turn into misunderstandings.

Gather information about the farm as it exists today

Once the vision and conversations begin, the next step is understanding what you’re working with. Many extension-based farm succession checklists recommend collecting practical information early in the process: ownership details, debts, operating structures, land records, and existing legal documents.

Bring in an attorney to turn decisions into protection

Once you’ve clarified goals, talked through family expectations, and gathered information, this is where an attorney becomes essential.

The Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at Iowa State explains that legal tools such as buy-sell agreements, operating agreements, and ownership structures only work when they reflect thoughtful decisions made by the farm owners.

An attorney’s role is to translate your intentions into legal documents that protect your farm, your family, and your future.

Your Next Steps are Simple

At Plan Wise Legal, the goal isn’t to rush you into documents before you’re ready. The goal is to guide you through a clear process—so your plan reflects your values, your family dynamics, and the future you want for your farm.

If you’ve been thinking, “We’ve been meaning to do this, but don’t know where to start,” this is your sign that starting can be simple: one conversation, one step, one plan at a time.

Ready to take the first step?

Contact Plan Wise Legal to schedule a FREE initial consultation. We’ll help you understand what farm succession planning can look like for your family and what your next best step should be.

Plan Wisely. Build With Purpose. Protect What Matters.

This article is brought to you by Plan Wise Legal, your trusted partner in estate planning, business planning, and elder law across South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Colorado.