Family farms can represent more than a source of income. For some families, they carry a history of work, memories and dedication to keeping the land together. Yet succession, meaning who should inherit the land, can cause conflict if one child has worked the land while others want their share of the estate. In 2024, the Iowa Court of Appeals decided Natvig v. Natvig, a dispute over a family farm. In its opinion No. 23-1992, filed on 30 October 2024, the court affirmed the dismissal of a challenge to Michael Natvig’s ownership of farmland that his father, Godfrey Natvig, had transferred to him, holding that Michael had rebutted the presumption of undue influence. Michael’s siblings and two children of a late sibling had argued that the transfer was the product of undue influence and that the estate planning should be set aside.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
