Fall 2024 19 the Generation NEXT program. In 2017, Virginia Forests magazine featured information on legacy planning and the Generation NEXT program. Here, we will share the progress and new resources developed over the past eight years. All of the resources of the Generation NEXT Program are available on our website: https://sites. google.com/vt.edu/generationnext/ home. This newer website includes resources, links to our partners, the schedule of workshops, and contact information for the Generation NEXT team. The newest feature is a “notify me” button to subscribe to receive information about upcoming workshops and webinars. Curated List of Attorneys An important piece of legacy planning is estate planning: putting in place the wills, trusts, and/ or corporate ownership structures needed to pass land to designated heirs. To do this, landowners need the services of an attorney, but not all attorneys are familiar with the value and challenges of owning, bequeathing, and inheriting rural land. The Virginia Farm and Forestland Legacy Planning Attorney List contains almost 50 lawyers with self-reported experience in estate planning for owners of rural land. The list is dynamic, with an online survey and rolling consideration. Heirs’ Property Education The Generation NEXT program has also been assisting partners at Virginia State University’s Small Farm Outreach Program to provide education on heirs’ property. Heirs’ property results when a landowner dies without a will, or their will is badly written or not properly probated. As a result, all of a person’s children or grandchildren (possibly dozens of people) become part owners of the property, with no Our flagship (and award-winning) publication, Legacy Planning: A Guide for Virginia Landowners, was released in 2019. This 56-page guide, including nine worksheets and six case studies, lays out the nine steps of successful legacy planning: Legacy Planning: A Guide for Virginia Landowners Begin the process and commit to moving forward. Determine your family assets. Write down long-term goals for your land. Hold a family meeting. Gather or create essential documents. Establish your legacy planning team. Determine the legal, financial, and conservation tools available to help you meet your goals. Provide opportunities for your family to learn about and enjoy your woodlands. Revisit your plan on a regular basis and adapt as your land, assets, and family change. The guide is available at our workshops, on our website, and by mail. Workshops help educate landowners about ways to ensure that your forest and farm land is properly transferred after death. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
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