Friday, November 27, 2015

What One Must Understand About Equine Law

By Marci Nielsen


The law profession is wide and it has dedicated branches to handle various aspects in it. Equine law is one of the branches. In Dedham, MA, this branch is concerned with the horse industry in its entirety in addition to all matters and industries related to horses. Matters that relate to horses are many and very diverse and they include purchases, sales, transportation, leasing, and boarding among others.

Lawyers who specialize in this field have the responsibility of keeping all people such as owners, students, riders, and trainers from possible liability. Many people, especially those with little information about equines usually wonder if there is enough business in this field for a lawyer to make a decent salary. The answer is, yes. There are many people and business entities that deal in matters to do with equines, and they need legal representation from lawyers.

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 that attorneys have are several and they depend on the nature of the case. However, they are involved with drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts for use by professionals and non-professionals alike. Breeding, lease, boarding, purchase and labor agreements and liability waivers are examples of contracts handled. Horses are treated differently because they are special in many ways. They can simultaneously function as vehicles, athletes, source of food, and means of transport, which makes it necessary to handle them under a separate subfield.

Lawyers also assist clients with matters related to tax, immigration, and insurance. Horses involve a lot of tax issues and it is the responsibility of the lawyer to resolve tax disputes with the government in question. They also handle issues that result from grazing and zoning with land owners.

Horses are placed under strict laws when it comes to migration. Before one can move a horse from one place or country to another, a lot of paperwork must first be drawn and filed. Insurance issues involved are also many and complicated. One can hire a lawyer on full-time basis or as a consultant.

The charges differ from one jurisdiction to another. The specifics of a particular case may also determine hose much the client is charged. However, certain caps are placed on fees to avoid exploitation of clients by professionals.




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