Create and customize a livestock bill of sale today with the help of easy-to-follow instructions to take you through every step of the journey and expertly prepared templates designed for your state.
Last Update May 12th, 2023
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- What is a Livestock Bill of Sale
- How to Write a Bill of Sale for Livestock
- Livestock Bill of Sale Example
- Other Types of Bills of Sale
- Livestock Bill of Sale - FAQs
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What is a Livestock Bill of Sale
A bill of sale for livestock is an important legal document that can be used to officially transfer ownership of cattle, sheep, pigs, or other farm animals. The form allows farmers and other animal buyers and sellers to settle and formalize an agreement to sell the livestock in question.
Livestock bills of sale can be used when farm animals are sold at auction or in private sales to indicate that ownership has passed from one party to another. They also lay out the key terms of the sale agreement, details about the animals being sold, and give both the buyer and seller legal proof that they are or are not the owners of the livestock after the sale.
How to Write a Bill of Sale for Livestock
A livestock bill of sale needs to carefully written in order to function as intended. It is, however, easy to create your own document at home using our contract maker and online tools. These will help you build a personalized form that works in your state and that contains all the necessary details and wording that will make the agreement final.
Alternatively, the bill of sale can be written by a lawyer. However, this is usually a more costly approach that can take longer to complete.
When writing your livestock bill of sale you will need to include the following:
The name and address of the buyer.
The name and address of the seller.
The date of the sale.
The price that has been agreed on.
Information about the livestock such as the no. head, class, age, sex, weight, brands or tattoos, markings, and description of the animals.
The signatures of both parties.
When the form is signed, it should also be notarized and both parties provided with Certificates of Acknowledgment. This is an optional step (unless it is mandated by the state you are in) although it is the best way to guarantee the security of the final purchase.
Livestock Bill of Sale Example
Before writing your livestock bill of sale, it is important to have a clear idea of how the final form will appear. Get to grips with how your bill of sale should look when it is completed with our specially prepared example below.
Livestock Bill of Sale - FAQs
Whilst livestock bills of sale look relatively straightforward to complete, it is important to understand all the key details that need to be included for them to be valid and the considerations you’ll need to take when using one. Find out more about what these documents can do in our FAQs below.
Do I Need a Bill of Sale for a Livestock Sale?
A livestock bill of sale is an important document needed to guarantee the security of a livestock purchase or sale. It allows both parties involved in the transaction to formalize their agreement and create a legally binding record of their contract.
When to Use a Bill of Sale for Cattle?
A bill of sale for livestock can be used for the sale of cattle, pigs, sheep, and other farm animals in almost any circumstance. In many cases, these documents are used when private sales occur or during auction processes to indicate the change in ownership of the livestock being sold.
What Are the Consequences of Not Having a Bill of Sale?
Selling animals without a valid livestock bill of sale runs a couple of risks. First of all, it gives the buyer and seller no recourse should one party renege on the agreed terms. Secondly, it doesn’t allow the parties to demonstrate and report the change of ownership, which could lead to fines from your state and issues when preparing your tax return.
Who Keeps the Bill of Sale?
Both parties are given copies of the completed livestock bill of sale once the transaction has been carried out. These should be kept by the buyer and seller for up to one year following the purchase of the livestock in case any disputes arise.