----- Original Message -----
> I have my Tennessee Registration number burned into the equipment.  This
> helped when they called the cops.  And they relented.  But if they had not
> the police could have done nothing.  Whereas a signed agreement would at
> least be proof if you had to go to court.

now i know what they mean when they say usa is a lawyer's paradise!!!! that
may sound facetious but is not intended.

in my view u r creating a rod for your own back if u want to pursue an
apiary lease agmnt. most property owners wld probably tell u to sod off,
which wld limit the places u cld put your hives. the kind that signed wld
probably be a pedantic type who wld make your beekeeping miserable anyway.

here, all property transactions have a sale & purchase agmnt, a section of
which is "chattels". that includes things like: tv antenna, curtains, water
pumps, etc. in other words, if the hives r not mentioned as chattels they
don't go with the sale. end of story! a quick call from the previous
property owner (whom i assume u were on good terms with) wld also confirm
the hives were not part of the sale. end of story! your rego number is
engraved on all your equipment. end of story!

i'm not saying all property owners r wonderful people, but an apiary lease
agmnt isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

your time is better spent going out & finding a property owner u get along
with.... & getting on with your beekeeping.

i hope things work out well,  mark