Interstate transfer from deceased in-law

[ElKootcho]

Hello,

I am new to the forum and not yet a gun-owner so please excuse my ignorance.

My father-in-law recently passed away (xmas day) and surviving mother-in-law would like to gift me his handgun (unknown make and model, she still needs to find the key to where it's hidden!). It is registered to the deceased father-in-law.

The gun is in PA and I am, obviously, in CA.

How do I go about getting this done? I am in the Los Angeles area (San Fernando Valley). I have never owned a gun so I would like to find a FFL that can help with the background check and transfer as well as teach me to clean and shoot safely (in-door range?).

Any recommendations or suggestion of where to start? Thank you.

[SkyHawk]

We need to know exactly what handgun first. If it is not on roster and is not roster exempt, then it cannot be done.

Go find out what it is - exactly, and I mean spare no details. The difference between a Glock 19 Gen 3 made in USA vs a Glock 19 Gen 3 made in Austria is the difference between getting it or not. Subtleties matter. In the case of something old, then the serial number is going to help determine if it is 50+ years old (and exempt) or not. Even the color of the gun matters to the roster listing.

Pics would help us help you if you cannot figure out what it is.

[ElKootcho]

Thanks for the reply. I will update this post when I get more details.

[edgerly779]

if off roster must be father son up and down in laws not family for this purpose

[kemasa]

In this case it would be coming from his mother--in-law. If she is his actual mother, it would be exempt as an intramilial transfer, as long as it isn't a so-called a-salt weapon. It could be given to a direct relative.

[ElKootcho]

My wife was able to grab a few pictures. Smith and Wesson Airweight 38 SPL

[SkyHawk]

That looks like a Model 38 Bodyguard aluminum frame with square butt. They started making them in the 1950s until 1999. We need the serial number to see if this one is older than 50 years, because it is not on the roster. There is a new model Bodyguard on the roster but it has a polymer frame, it is not this model.

[ElKootcho]

Thank you for the feedback. This issue is being put on hold for a while as my wife has returned home and did not have time to get the serial number before she left.

[Chewy65]

Assuming the MIL is your wife's mother, your MIL can give it to your wife in what is called a interstate intrafamily transfer, but your MIL cannot transfer it to you.

[rkt88edmo]

Assuming the MIL is your wife's mother, your MIL can give it to your wife in what is called a interstate intrafamily transfer, but your MIL cannot transfer it to you.

This. Not rocket science. No worry about roster as it doesnt sound like your wife is phobic.

[acespawnshop]

Assuming the MIL is your wife's mother, your MIL can give it to your wife in what is called a interstate intrafamily transfer, but your MIL cannot transfer it to you.

This. Not rocket science. No worry about roster as it doesnt sound like your wife is phobic.

This transfer still needs to go through an FFL since the OP said the MIL is in PA and I would assume the wife lives here in LA area.

[rkt88edmo]

This transfer still needs to go through an FFL since the OP said the MIL is in PA and I would assume the wife lives here in LA area.

So you are confirming what I confirmed? Lol.

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[code_blue]

Chewy, rkt, and Ace are correct here. Transfer to wife and if you really wanted, wife to you. Communal property, but your choice.

[acespawnshop]

So you are confirming what I confirmed? Lol.

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No, I wasn't. It was neither implied nor said it had to be done through an FFL. Even CAL DOJ F's these up and tells out of state shippers to just fill out the OP law form. Not to mention if he is in LA area chances are its probably going to end up here anyhow.

[kemasa]

No, I wasn't. It was neither implied nor said it had to be done through an FFL.

Which is important to specifically state that it has to go through a CA FFL.

Even CAL DOJ F's these up and tells out of state shippers to just fill out the OP law form.

I wonder if they are still giving the bad info. I talked to a person a while ago and pointed them to look at the Federal law which says that it is not legal to do that. I was also told that it was the Sacramento BATF office which gave the CA DOJ the bad info, or at least that is what the CA DOJ said.

Not to mention if he is in LA area chances are its probably going to end up here anyhow.

Perhaps :-).