Using linked census data from 1980, 1985, and 1990 actual succession decisions of Upper-Austrian farm households are examined empirically. Two types of succession are distinguished by inspecting the age of the farm operator and other household members in the consecutive census observations : “family succession” (succession by the farm operator’s child) and “non-family succession” (the farm is sold outside the family). Farm exits are considered as an additional category in the model. Several characteristics of the farm and of the farm operator’s household are found to influence the succession decision significantly. Model choice and specification issues are discussed.