The Future of My Land
Related Links
- Find a Forester or Land Trust working in your town
- Find a Neighbor with training and experience in Forest Conservation
- Cases of Conservation
- MA Land Trust Coalition
- Forest Landowners Guide to Internet Resources – Estate Planning
Related PDF Documents
Everyday your land provides benefits such as scenery, privacy, recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat and a good place to live and raise a family. Your land is also a legacy to the future. What is the future of your land? Who will own it and how will it be used?
Land is often a family’s most valuable
asset. It has likely
increased in value since you first took ownership, substantially if you
have owned it for a long time. This increase in value provides some complications
for passing your land on to the next generation as this dramatic increase
in value could result in substantial estate tax liability. The
estate taxes may make it difficult for heirs to maintain the land in
its entirety and instead may force its sale. Should a landowner
decide instead to sell the property, the dramatic value increase could
result in significant capitol gains tax liability.
In addition to its economic value, owning land often fosters a strong connection to the land. This connection can motivate landowners to protect the natural and scenic qualities of their land.
Conservation Related Estate Planning
There are estate planning and land protection “tools” available to landowners. When used together these “Conservation Related Estate Planning Tools” are designed to lessen the tax burden and permit you to pass on the land to family members who are not forced to sell all or part of the property to cover estate taxes. At the same time these tools also protect the natural and scenic features of your land. Conservation Related Estate Planning provides you the opportunity to help realize your financial, personal and land stewardship goals.


