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The Future of My Land

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?

future of my landLand 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.

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This is the UMass Extension Forest Conservation Program web site and is a part of the Natural Resources Conservation Department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. MassWoods is maintained by Paul Catanzaro, Forestry Extension Specialist, cat@umext.umass.edu, 413.545.4839
MassWoods is the Web site for the Forest Conservation Extension Program within UMass Extension's Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation program, Department of Natural Resources Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst.
http://www.masswoods.net