Transfer Firearm from Deceased Person

[jettero]

If I purchase a firearm from an estate of a deceased person, and terms of the sale is that I register the firearm- will any FFL do the DROS check and complete the transfer? Is any documentation required from the estate? Thank you!

[SkyHawk]

Are you related to the decedent, and if so how?

Is the gun currently in CA or out of state?

Is the gun C&R, and if so are you a C&R FFL?

[jettero]

Thank you for the follow up.

I am not related. The gun is in CA. The gun is not C&R and I am not a C&R FFL.

[Quiet]

If I purchase a firearm from an estate of a deceased person, and terms of the sale is that I register the firearm- will any FFL do the DROS check and complete the transfer? Is any documentation required from the estate? Thank you!

If you are not an immediate family member, then the executor of deceased's estate needs to transfer the firearm to you through a CA FFL dealer.

Two methods to do this.
1. You and the executor of the estate meet at a CA FFL dealer and conduct a private party transfer.
2. The executor of the estate ships the firearm to a CA FFL dealer, who then transfers it to you.


Since 01-01-1991, if the firearm is transferred to you without using a CA FFL dealer, then it's an illegal transfer.

[jettero]

Can the estate liquidator transfer the firearm to FFL on behalf of the estate?

[Librarian]

Can the estate liquidator transfer the firearm to FFL on behalf of the estate?

If the estate wants to do that as a consignment, yes. But usually it would be transfer to the buyer, using the CA FFL because CA says so, as a PPT.

DROS will take care of as much 'registration' as CA does in 2020.

[SkyHawk]

Can the estate liquidator transfer the firearm to FFL on behalf of the estate?

The executor of the estate can PPT it to you if you are both located close enough to meet at a single FFL. And a PPT would be required if it was an off roster and not-roster-exempt handgun.

Or the executor can ship it to a CA FFL close to you and you can DROS it as a dealer transfer, if it is not an off roster/not roster exempt handgun. There will be additional fees involved in that case.

As already noted, when the DROS is done for you using either method, the firearm will have been registered to you.

No documentation is required from the estate in either scenario - just the ID or DL of the executor. And if it is a PPT, that person must have a CA ID or DL.

[jettero]

Ok very good. Thank you for the info!