In my efforts at better preparedness and planning I have been trying to think ahead on how to most easily take care of family should something happen to me (its why I finally got life insurance in order when my son was born). Because I am just getting into guns and planning on acquiring my first very soon I am trying to plan ahead to allow the easiest and most pain free way to transfer ownership of firearms to my wife and son if I die. It seems that for my family's sake, by starting a trust now right from the start and registering all firearms to it, it might make things that much easier in the future if something happens to me. I know that firearms can be inherited here without necessarily requiring permits to acquire, but every extra step that can removed from the burden my family would already have to bear if I die would be beneficial in my thinking.

Has anyone here created a trust for registering firearms primarily for estate planning? If not what has been your experience with inherited firearms upon death of a family member?

Obviously as a bonus it would be nice if the trust could account for potential NFA items in the future (if we moved to another state  ).

The only NFA legal in Hawaii are AOW and DD. I have a trust that holds an AOW.

The only NFA legal in Hawaii are AOW and DD. I have a trust that holds an AOW.

Yes, I do know this.   I'm not particularly interested in AOW or DD here. Interest in NFA items was more long term, IE; if i'm going to the trouble of creating a trust I might as well try to accommodate NFA items (though  a non issue unless we move out of state). That is, unless suppressors magically become legal here, then I'd be very interested. Not holding my breath on that though. What has been your experience as far as purchasing and registering with a trust Suka?

I'm wondering if anyone has a trust for holding firearms in general, and what has the process been like for purchasing and registering? Ideally I would like family to be trustees so that upon my death there is literally nothing they have to do with regard to my firearms. No transfers, no registering. Again, my primary goal is estate planning rather than NFA items.

Another option is to jointly register your guns with your spouse, so both of your names are on the registration.  For handguns, your spouse would need proof of completing a handgun safety course or equivalent.

Trust do not require the fingerprint cards , CLEO signature and FBI back ground checks. It goes through the system a lot faster.

Just bring the Trust to the FFL and they will do the rest of the paperwork, if the NFA is on a form 3.
Form 4 transfers do not require a SOT, and just mail off the paperwork to the ATF.

Trust are very cheap , (free). Just draft a NFA specific trust and forget about it.

Another option is to jointly register your guns with your spouse, so both of your names are on the registration.  For handguns, your spouse would need proof of completing a handgun safety course or equivalent.

With as much a pain it is to make trips to PD not sure this would be easier. Question I have now is that if I register all my firearms to the trust including handguns...does handgun safety course for my wife still kick in? She would be a trustee, but I would register the items on behalf of the trust.
Edit: I would be buying all firearms, but registering them to the trust.

A gun trust is the way to go for many reasons.

First, NFA items should be registered to the trust.
1) You bypass the fingerprint cards, CLEO signature
2) You are able to immediately have your spouse (or children, if they're over 21) take possession of your NFA items.
3) You're able to make additions, for example, adding trustees and or beneficiaries at any time.
4) You protect yourself legally by having NFA items in the trust (PM me for details)

Hawaii laws are screwy and I'm not 100% sure how "Hawaii" views firearms in a trust, upon your death, etc...


If long term is your goal, you want all your firearms in a trust. PM me if you need any specific details.