Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Fundamentals Involved In The Equine Law

By Marci Nielsen


The law profession has many different branches that deal with different aspects of daily life. One of the branches, which deals exclusively with all matters related with horses is called the equine law. When talking about all matters related to equines, In Dedham, MA, it means all legal aspects of the horse industry as well as horse-related business. Such matters include breeding, buying, selling, boarding, transporting, and leasing horses among many others.

The first responsibility that lawyers owe to their clients in this field is eliminating liability. Horse riders, trainers, learners, and owners are some of the most commonly represented clients. Since little is known about equines to many people, most of them wonder if legal practitioners make enough to lead decent lifestyles. What people do not understand is that there is usually enough business and the client base is huge. Legal representation is required by businesses and individuals who operate in the industry.

It is common to see lawyers changing specialties to focus on horses. This field has become very attractive to lawyers because young lawyers who are more determined to make wealth fast settle for other subspecialties they think have more clients. Such subspecialties include preceding over cases, prosecuting criminals, and representing rich people. This leaves the field that deals with equines underserved. Besides, that one can specialize in other subfields too, so that they have a broader client base.

The kinds of clients in this branch vary. Some of the most common ones include partnerships, government agencies, individuals, limited companies, and corporations. Some clients only come once or a few times in a lifetime while others are very regular. Examples of clients that are infrequent are grooms. A groom may only seek legal assistance once during the wedding and then never return. Because of the unforeseeable sources of liabilities, they need legal protection.

The responsibilities of attorneys are many depending on the nature of the case. However, typically, they draft, negotiate, and review contracts for clients. Such contracts are used by both horse professionals and non-professionals. Some of the major kinds of contracts drawn include breeding contracts, lease agreements, boarding contracts, labor agreements, purchase agreements, and liability waivers. Horses are special animals and that is why they need a special and separate branch to handle matters related to them. For instance, they are assets, means of transport, source of food, and athletes among others, all at the same time.

Other areas in which lawyers offer assistance include issues related with insurance, tax, and immigration. Tax issues relating to horses are many and complicated. The lawyer works to resolve them and to offer tax planning strategies to avoid problems with the government. Grazing and zoning disputes are also handled.

In most countries, the process of moving a horse to another country is filled with stringent restrictions. The paperwork involved is usually huge and often complicated. Lawyers can be hired to handle such tasks easily. Attorneys work as consultants or on a permanent basis.

Different jurisdictions have different charges or rates. The fees may also depend on the specific issues involved in the case. However, governments place caps on fees so that professionals do not exploit clients.




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