Farming (and being married to a farmer) has never been an easy profession. It’s a way of life that wraps work, home, and identity into a single, often unforgiving package. The line between personal and professional life is blurry when your office is the barn, your assets are living creatures or acres of land, and your business partners may include your spouse, your children, or your in-laws.
The demands are relentless — early mornings, late nights, the constant negotiation with weather, markets, equipment breakdowns, and shifting regulations. Add to that the financial stress of unpredictable commodity prices or crop yields, and it becomes clear: farming is not for the faint of heart.
Now imagine going through a divorce in the middle of all that.
For farmers and their spouses, divorce is rarely straightforward. The very nature of a family farm — often inherited, deeply tied to identity and legacy, and difficult to value or divide — makes separation more complex than in a typical marriage. Equipment, livestock, land, and even debt can all be jointly held, even when only one spouse is active in the daily operation. Generational considerations, too, are common: maybe the farm was passed down from a parent, or maybe it’s intended for the children. And then there’s the matter of daily life — how do you continue working the land or tending animals when the person you once partnered with in marriage is now sitting across from you at a mediation table?
Whether you’re the spouse who runs the farm or the one who supported it in quieter but no less important ways — bookkeeping, meals, child-rearing, off-farm income — this kind of divorce can feel like pulling apart a root system with your bare hands. It’s not just a marriage ending; it’s a business partnership, a home, a legacy, and a way of life coming under scrutiny.
This page explores what makes divorce in the farming context so uniquely challenging and what both farmers and their spouses should understand before the process begins.
Finding a good Farm Divorce lawyer can be tricky; they need to have the experience and skill to help you navigate the divorce process and understand the distinct challenges you face.
Running a farm can be like running a business: maintaining it can take a lot of dedication, time, resources and hard work. It’s also similar to running a business because of the significant assets you likely accumulated over the years. Determining what assets you’ll split, what assets you’ll keep and who will keep the farm itself can be challenging. Some farm assets that may be subject to division include:
Farming assets are just some of the things that can create issues. Establishing custody time and child support can add to those complications if you and your spouse have children. If you are like many farmers struggling to make ends meet, establishing how you will pay child support and spousal support on slim profit margins may leave you wondering how you’ll afford payments.
Your farm and family circumstances are unique to you. Meet with us for a consultation and our Mankato lawyers can discuss your family situation, get a better idea of what assets you have for the farm and create a tailored strategy that helps you protect those assets and keeps your best interests in mind.
The lawyers at Kohlmeyer Hagen, Law Office Chtd., understand the unique and complex challenges farmers and farmer spouses can face amid divorce and have been doing it for over 25 years. We can help you move through the process so you can continue your work, your legacy and your lifestyle.
We can also work with you on your terms and schedule to meet with you when it’s most convenient. We understand that your time is important but limited and we will do everything we can to address any questions or concerns you have.
Our Mankato farm divorce lawyers are here to represent you and fight diligently to help you maintain your way of life after divorce. Fill out our contact form to set up a meeting with one of our legal professionals today – we look forward to speaking with you.
