Property Inheritance

You’ve put time, care, and thought into your land. That makes it part of your story—and part of what you’ll pass on.

Deciding what should happen to your forest in the future is one of the most meaningful steps you can take.

For many, land isn’t just valuable on paper—it’s tied to memories and a sense of place. That’s why making a plan means balancing both emotional and financial needs. Maybe your family wants to keep it wild. Maybe someone hopes to build a home. Maybe it’s a bit of both. The point is: you have options.

With the right planning, your land can support your goals and theirs. That’s where estate planning comes in. It’s not just for people with mansions and big bank accounts—if you own land, it’s for you.

Think of estate planning as a way to make your wishes clear. It uses tools like wills, trusts, or conservation agreements to help your land stay in good hands and serve a purpose that matters.

Your land has shaped your life. With a little planning, it can shape the future, too.

Start with Your Goals

Your family’s needs and land goals are unique, which means there’s no “one-size-fits-all” path. Reflect on your priorities—do you want to conserve your land, minimize taxes, or ensure smooth ownership transitions?

Your goals determine what steps you need to take to protect your land or ease the transition of your property to your heirs. Depending on what you want to accomplish, here are some steps you may take: 

• Put a plan in place to pass the land to your family or heirs: Work with a lawyer or advisor to create a will, trust, or other legal tools that make sure your land stays in the family or passed to your desired heirs and doesn’t get tied up in court or sold off unexpectedly.
• Conservation Easement (CE): This is a legal agreement that limits future development on your land but still allows you to use it for things like farming or recreation. You keep ownership, and it can be applied to all or part of your land. Conservation easements can be donated (for tax benefits), sold, or partially sold at a reduced price (a “bargain sale”).
• Donating or Selling Land: You can permanently protect your land by giving or selling it to a conservation group or land trust. Donations may qualify for significant tax deductions.
• Bargain Sale: If you sell your land or a CE for less than its market value, the difference counts as a charitable gift—offering both income and potential tax breaks.
• Bequest: You can leave your land or a CE to a conservation organization in your will. This allows you to retain full control during your lifetime while ensuring the land is protected after you're gone—and it may reduce estate taxes.
• Reserved Life Estate: You can donate or sell your land now, but keep the right to live on and use it for life. After you pass, the land goes to the conservation group. This option may also come with a tax deduction.
• Limited Development: This approach protects the most ecologically valuable parts of your land, while allowing a small portion to be developed or kept for family use—offering flexibility and balance.

Find the Right Expertise

When you’re ready to get started, choose a professional suited to your specific land-related goals. Here’s a quick breakdown of who does what:

So What's Next?

Once you’ve pinpointed your main priority and who you need to help realize your goals, reach out to the right professional. In many cases, your local area TDF forester can help point you in the right direction.

Check out the Forest Legacy Program, which conserves private forests threatened by development through voluntary conservation easements or land purchases. It protects over 53,000 acres in Tennessee to maintain timber, habitat, and water quality. Each property must follow a long-term forest management plan.

Looking for something more agriculture-focused? Follow the link below to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture's Farmland Legacy Resources.