Farm & Agricultural Estate Planning in Maine

Preserve the Land. Protect Your Legacy. Plan for Generations.

Farming Is More Than a Business — It’s Your Heritage

Your farmland, timber, equipment, and homestead carry value beyond dollars — they carry history, purpose, family. At Paul O. Dillon Attorney at Law, we help Maine farmers and landowners create estate plans that keep land in the family, minimize disruption, and honor years of work.


Whether you're planning for generational transfer, farm succession, or protecting your agricultural assets from unforeseen risks, we’re here to guide every step.

Keep the Farm in the Family — and Thriving

Why Farm & Agricultural Planning Matters

Farms are uniquely vulnerable to legal, tax, and family complications. Without a clear plan, stepping into generational leadership, navigating estate taxes, or ensuring fairness among heirs can fracture what took decades to build.


A strong agricultural estate plan helps you:


  • Pass the farm to children or heirs with clarity
  • Protect farm’s financial and natural resources
  • Plan for business, tax, and legal continuity
  • Avoid forced sales or fragmentation of land
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How We Help

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1. Succession Planning for Farms & Landowners

We help you decide who will carry on the farm, when, and how to transition leadership without losing productivity or heritage.
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2. Farm & Timber Asset Protection

From equipment to woodlots to water rights, we structure ownership and protection to minimize liability and preserve natural assets.
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3. Estate Tax & Gift Strategies for Agricultural Properties

Special techniques help farms reduce tax burdens while keeping land intact across generations.
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4. Agricultural Trusts & Land Conservation Agreements

Trusts, conservation easements or protections help ensure the land stays preserved, while still delivering needed value.
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5. Operating Entity Structuring

We guide how your farm business is structured — partnerships, LLCs, or corporate forms — so that assets and operations are protected.
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6. Long-Term Care & Retirement Planning for Farmers

Planning not only for farm succession but ensuring you and your spouse have care, income, and stability as you age.

Our Process

We’re here to listen — Schedule a consult today.
People
  • We begin by talking about who will carry on the farm — children, family members, or others — and what you want their roles, responsibilities, and legacy to look like.
Property
  • We review the agricultural assets: land, timber, equipment, water rights, farm buildings, etc. We also assess how they are owned and titled.
Plans
  • Then we walk through options — conservation tools, trusts, gifting, tax strategies, and successor structure — so your land stays whole and your vision endures.
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FAQs

  • How can I pass the farm to my children without splitting up land?

    We help design succession plans, trusts or conservation easements that keep parcels whole and operations viable.

  • Do farming properties receive special tax treatment?

    Sometimes. Maine and agricultural programs offer exemptions or credits; we help ensure you're optimizing what’s available.

  • What happens to farm debts, loans, or mortgages in probate?

    Proper structuring and succession planning can shield heirs from unexpected liability.

  • Can conservation easements protect land from development?

    Yes — with careful legal work, easements can ensure preservation while still allowing some flexibility.

  • What if my heirs are not interested in farming?

    We can help plan financial arrangements or legal protections to balance fairness and viability.

  • When should I start my farm succession plan?

    The sooner the better — land, tax laws, and family dynamics change. Starting early gives options and peace of mind.

Resources for Farmers & Landowners

  • Land for Good — Resources on farmland transfer in Maine
  • University of Maine Cooperative Extension — Farm succession tools
  • Maine Association of Conservation Districts — Land protection tips

Start the Conversation


Your farm is part of your family, your history, and your future. Let’s build a plan that protects both land and legacy, and keeps farming in the family — on your terms.