Estate Settlement Following an Inheritance Under Firearms Laws

Are you an heir of the deceased, who owned firearms and held a valid firearms permit? If so, you have the following options:

Applying for an Heir's Firearms Possession Card

If you wish to keep the firearms as keepsakes, you must apply for an heir’s firearms possession card. Pursuant to Section 20 of the Firearms Act (WaffG), the heir is required to apply for an heir’s firearms possession card within one month of accepting the inheritance or to register the firearm subject to a permit that is part of the estate on an existing firearms possession card.

If several people become owners as a result of an inheritance, a firearms ownership permit may be issued to this community of heirs. The application must either be submitted jointly by all heirs, or one heir must be authorized in writing by the other heirs to submit the application.

Declaration of Waiver and Destruction

If all eligible heirs waive their rights to the firearms, ammunition, and other items subject to firearms laws included in the estate and request their destruction, a waiver and destruction declaration must be completed. An appointment will then be scheduled to pick up the firearms. The destruction is provided free of charge.

Important Note: All of the decedent’s original firearms permits must be returned to the appropriate firearms authority. If the permit or any part of the documents can no longer be located, a declaration of loss must be filed.

Waiver in Favor of a Co-Heir

If there are multiple potential heirs and only one of them is to inherit the weapons, the other heirs must submit a waiver in favor of a co-heir.

Important Note: All of the decedent’s original firearms permits must be returned to the appropriate firearms authority. If the permit or any part of the documents can no longer be located, a declaration of loss must be filed.

Notice of Assignment

If none of the heirs wish to take possession of the firearms from the estate themselves, they may, for example, be transferred to an authorized person. This notification must be submitted to the competent firearms authority within two weeks of the transfer of the firearm.

Important Note: All of the decedent’s original firearms permits must be returned to the appropriate firearms authority. If the permit or any part of the documents can no longer be located, a declaration of loss must be filed.

Statement of Losses

If the decedent’s firearms, items subject to firearms laws, or firearms permits have been lost, a loss report must be completed.