There are firearms in my parents' estate. How do I handle those legally?

Firearms in California estates are one of the most commonly mishandled parts of an estate transition. California law requires that firearms be transferred through a licensed firearms dealer (FFL) using DROS (Dealer's Record of Sale) paperwork — they cannot legally be sold from the estate, gifted to a family member, or moved out of state without going through the proper process.

Roger holds the California Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) and has handled dozens of estates that included firearms. The process typically looks like:

1. Inventory. Every firearm is documented — make, model, serial number, condition. 2. FFL transfer to inventory. Firearms are moved to a licensed FFL dealer who holds them while the estate is sorted. 3. Sale or transfer. Family members who pass background checks can take possession of specific firearms through the FFL. Others can be sold through the FFL or consigned. 4. Ammunition. California has separate rules for ammunition sales — Roger's FFL network handles this too.

The wrong moves: moving firearms across state lines without proper documentation, selling them privately, or storing them at home for months while the estate works through probate. Each of those creates legal exposure.

I can give you a better answer with more information. Every situation I've handled in 18 years has had its own wrinkles. To talk it through with someone who's done this before: (510) 504-0402 during business hours, (406) 205-9003 anytime, or roger@grubb.net.