Estate Firearms
There are guns in my parents' estate. What's the first step?
Short answer
Do not move them. Do not sell them privately. Inventory them in place, then arrange transfer through a licensed FFL dealer per California law. Roger is FSC-certified and coordinates this.
Step 1: Don't move the firearms. California has specific rules about firearm transportation, and moving them across state lines (or even improperly within California) can create legal exposure.
Step 2: Inventory them in place. - Make, model, serial number, condition. - Note any unusual items (high-capacity magazines, assault weapons under California's definition, suppressors). - Photograph each.
Step 3: Engage a licensed firearms dealer (FFL).
In California, firearms transfers must go through an FFL using DROS (Dealer's Record of Sale) paperwork. This is true for: - Transfers to family members (with very narrow intra-family exceptions). - Sales to third parties. - Out-of-state transfers. - Storage during probate.
Step 4: Family member transfers.
Adult children inheriting firearms from a parent who has died face one of the few exceptions to the FFL transfer requirement — but you still need DROS paperwork filed and waiting periods may apply. An FFL can guide you.
Step 5: Sales.
If the estate is selling the firearms (not transferring to a family member), the FFL handles the entire process — appraisal, sale, paperwork, background check on buyer, DROS, transfer.
Roger holds the California Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) and has handled dozens of estates with firearms. He coordinates with FFL dealers in the East Bay and walks the family through the legal process.
Need a complete answer for your specific situation? Call (510) 504-0402, text (406) 205-9003, or email roger@grubb.net. No charge, no pitch — just a real conversation about what you're navigating.