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When it comes to selling or buying farm animals, you want to protect your investment and make sure you have everything in writing. An animal bill of sale lists all the details of the transaction and ensures both parties are treated fairly.
Find out how to write your own animal bill of sale and where to find document templates to download for free.
The bill of sale for animals or livestock is an agreement between the buyer and seller that farm animals will transfer hands on a certain date in return for an agreed-upon sale price. It is required as proof of purchase.
Before the sale date, the buyer is allowed to inspect the animals and have them examined by a health professional to determine if the sale will go through as planned. It is recommended that you have at least two witnesses or a notary public to verify the actual transaction.
You should use a bill of sale for animals any time you plan to buy or sell livestock, such as horses, sheep, chickens, cows, hens and pigs. Whether it's a private sale or an auction, you need to have something in writing to verify the transaction.
A bill of sale for animals is specific to the sale of livestock, whereas a proof of purchase is when you purchase goods and services. It is an invoice or receipt rather than a bill of sale.
The bill of sale needs to be quite detailed and lay out in simple terms the animals that will be transferred. Here's what is included:
A bill of sale is a must if you are transferring animals from one owner to another. It also allows for negotiation between buyers and sellers. It is more than an invoice, it is a contract. In order to be effective, a bill of sale must be dated, signed and witnessed.
You don't need a lawyer to draft up a bill of sale for an animal. It's quite a straightforward document and so can be written up by anyone involved in the sale. If you're not sure how to lay it out or what to include, there are free templates you can use online.
You can easily write your own bill of sale by downloading a document template as your guide. Simply fill in the blanks, including the details of buyer and seller and the livestock in question, and it's done.
You can find document template downloads for free online. Certain sites require you to sign up for a membership.
Here are some document template sites to consider:
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