Posted: August 7, 2026 | Forestry Education
Quick answer: Only about 30% of family forestland survives to the second generation, and 12% to the third. Without a written succession plan, land often becomes “heirs’ property,” jointly owned by multiple descendants with no one able to make decisions about it. North Carolina landowners can get a free succession consultation through NC FarmLink.
Only about 30 percent of forestlands successfully transition to the second generation, and just 12 percent make it to the third, according to the National Woodland Owners Association and the American Tree Farm System. That’s not because families don’t care about the land. It’s because forestland succession comes with a specific set of challenges that catch a lot of owners off guard.
Unlike a bank account, forestland wealth isn’t easy to divide evenly among heirs. One child might want to keep managing the property while another wants to cash out, and without a clear plan, that tension can force a sale nobody actually wanted. Large landholdings can also trigger estate taxes substantial enough that heirs have to sell off part of the property just to cover the bill. And not every heir has the interest or the know-how to manage a working forest, which raises real questions about who actually takes over.
The absence of a plan doesn’t just create family friction, it creates a legal problem. Property left without a clear will often becomes what’s known as heirs’ property, owned jointly by multiple descendants with no single person able to make decisions about it. This has driven meaningful land loss across North Carolina, particularly in Black communities, as fragmented ownership makes the land harder to manage, finance, or sell on reasonable terms. Keeping land productive and lowering the tax burden while you plan can help, and our guide to reducing property taxes through Present-Use Valuation is a good place to start.
Yes. North Carolina landowners can access a no-cost farm succession consultation through NC FarmLink, a program run through NC State Extension. A Certified Farm Succession Coordinator will walk through your specific situation and point you toward the right combination of wills, trusts, LLC structures, or conservation agreements for your goals.
The families who navigate this well are the ones who start talking about it before it becomes urgent. That means sitting down with the people who might inherit the land, being honest about who wants to be involved in managing it, and pairing that conversation with the legal side: a proper estate plan built with an attorney who understands forestland specifically.
Heirs’ property is land inherited without a will, leaving it jointly owned by multiple descendants. No single owner can make decisions about the property alone, which makes it hard to manage, finance, or sell, and it has driven significant land loss across North Carolina.
An attorney experienced in estate and forestland succession is strongly recommended, especially for larger properties or complicated family situations. NC FarmLink’s free consultation can help you understand your options before you meet with one.
The initial consultation through NC FarmLink is free. Costs beyond that vary depending on whether you need a will, a trust, an LLC structure, or a conservation agreement, and on the complexity of your estate.
A will covers the legal transfer of assets after death. A succession plan is broader: it includes the legal and financial side, like wills and trusts, plus the family conversations and management decisions about how the land will actually be run going forward.
Whether you’re just starting to think about succession or trying to untangle an existing heirs’ property situation, Carolina Forestry & Realty can help you understand what your land is worth today and what your options look like for keeping it in the family tomorrow.