The aim of the paper is to examine the situation and legal regimes of family farms, that is to say, quantify the impact of legal regulation on their development. Different legal environments throughout history have largely hampered the development of agricultural households. Reforms often did not have a foundation in economics and economic thought, so modest development trends were inherent to agricultural holdings in our areas. Rather than promoting large farms, ideology did everything to break them down and, as a result, we still have small, uncompetitive and unproductive farms. The establishment of a register of agricultural holdings can be seen as a positive measure, as well as the allocation of incentives, but the results are still quite modest. Since family farms constitute a pillar of agriculture, we should give them the biggest attention possible and especially ensure their development by bringing meaningful legal regulations in terms of development and planning. For further development of the agricultural sector, it is necessary to adjust the inherited legal regime to the legal norms and laws of the EU.