What happens if I leave my gun collection to my daughter?

Let’s say that in your Will you leave a collection of non-NFA guns to your daughter, who lives in another state. Federal law doesn’t prevent her from picking them up and driving them home across state lines. But she must comply with the laws of both her own state (or city) and yours pertaining to registration and transportation of firearms.

Is it safe to leave a gun in a house?

Maybe not. If you truly know nothing at all about firearms, it may be safest to leave the firearm just where it is for now. After all, presumably no one has disturbed it for several years, so another day or two will not make any realistic difference.

Can a firearm be passed down to an heir?

They can’t be passed down to an heir and can’t be registered after the fact. If the executor of the estate discovers unregistered NFA firearms, he/she must contact the local ATF office to arrange for them to be “abandoned” – in other words, turned over to law enforcement.

What happens if you inherit a gun in California?

If you inherit a firearm in California you are required by law to register the transfer of ownership or in some cases, dispose of it. However, the rules regarding that transfer depend on your relationship to the testator (the maker of the document bequeathing the firearm)), as well as the type of firearm bequeathed.

What to do if you find an unregistered NFA gun?

If the executor of the estate discovers unregistered NFA firearms, he/she must contact the local ATF office to arrange for them to be “abandoned” – in other words, turned over to law enforcement. Firearms not covered by the NFA include revolvers, hunting rifles, shotguns, and semi-automatic pistols bought for personal or home protection.

What should I do with my family’s guns?

If you’re in doubt, check with a lawyer who is familiar with your state’s gun laws and rights. If you have no interest in owning any of the firearms passed down to you, and the guns have considerable value, you can sell them to a licensed dealer — the same type we mentioned above to assist in transferring ownership.

Can a person drive a gun across state lines?

Federal law doesn’t prevent her from picking them up and driving them home across state lines. But she must comply with the laws of both her own state (or city) and yours pertaining to registration and transportation of firearms. For example, if her state requires a firearms permit, she will need to get one.

Can a shotgun be passed down to an heir?

These include fully automatic weapons, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and silencers. They must have serial numbers and be registered with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Unregistered NFA weapons are contraband. They can’t be passed down to an heir and can’t be registered after the fact.

What happens to a firearm in a trust?

You can name multiple trustees, who then share the right to possess and use the firearms covered by the Trust. Since the Trust stays in effect after your death, the executor of the estate isn’t involved, and the firearms don’t have to go through probate. Trusts are not intended to circumvent the law.