This is always a difficult subject to breach but I'm 66.5 and my gun show partner is in his mid-late 70's. Partner has WAY more guns than I, but even my collection could become a real burden on my wife in the event of an untimely change of my EKG, BP and pulse. If one was diagnosed with a situation that would provide one with a reasonable time to disposes of all this stuff, then suck it up, as well as you can under your condition and turn it into cash for your loved ones. That is after deciding who of your loved ones should get certain things in this group of things. HAVE A valid WILL.

I spent most of my adult life as a military helicopter pilot and after that a professional civilian pilot, flying jets and helicopter. Dangerous stuff by most estimates. The fact is you never know when your time is up. Those people, like me and many others on this forum with substantial investments in our collection should be thinking about what happens when we **** out. I know many of you are saying I am preaching to the believers. That is wonderful. Many of you do have a plan.

My partner, I think does not, despite my urging to the otherwise. I believe he is now starting to listen to me. Don't let the courts decide what happens to all of these, many rare and desirable S&W's when you are no longer able to make these calls. There are many lawyers here who would agree with me, I think.

My son and daughter are in the loop as to what they care about and what they don't. We have to talk to these people in our lives and get their opinions.

I did not mean to bring anyone down, but we all have to face "Confronting Our Own Mortality".

After my in laws chase away the buzzards to devour my corpse and drink the last drop of blood, I don't care what happens, my kids will have what is theirs.

age 64 next week and have been reducing the size for the past 6 months or so and will continue until I sell everything I don't really care about.

I've seen the other side of the coin where I had to almost threaten families to come get their "loved one's" possessions. It's so much easier all the way around if you make your arrangements beforehand.

I'll be 71 Nov.13.....I did what you are suggesting a couple of yrs.ago!
Jim

I keep discussing this subject with my two gun collecting friends. I am 66, the other guys are 70 and 74. I did sell most of my collection a while back. I have cardiac issues. I kept what I hunt and target shoot with. Now I don't have to worry about what happens when I go to the "big" gun show in the sky! I have educated my wife and children on what to do with the rest. My two friends have also offered there help to the wife if needed. I keep seeing auction houses offering the collections of the "late" so and so. I did not want that to happen to my collection. I wanted to have the fun of disposing of my collection while I was living. Just something for all of you to think about!

Wills can be contested, and things can sometimes get very ugly even when a will is in place. Sometimes a trust is a much better option.
Do a trust right and an estate doesn't need to go through a probate court for settlement. At least thats how things are here in NH.

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Geoff. Since 1960.

Currently,at 72, getting ready to have an inventory reduction sale.
Will not sell to flippers though.

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Bill
Dis B. Leaf

I gotta tell ya.
A few years ago when my peripheral motor nerve condition started, my neurologist gave me an initial diagnosis of ALS.
My mind went blank, what now?
Talk about facing ones mortality. A 2 to 3 year sentence of a slow horrible death.
Turned out to be a condition called Multifocal Motor Neuropathy which means I won't lose the ability to breath or swallow and I may be as bad as I'm gonna get.
We don't have a lot but we do have to make sure that we can at least afford to get buried.

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Keep on Chooglin'

You mean I can't be a cowboy forever ?

In blue states with gun registration, if the police department learns that a licensed handgun owner has died, they will often come to your house and take all the handguns for "safekeeping." When a friend died suddenly, I had to jump through hoops for his widow in order to get the guns back. I had to supply a death certificate, a funeral bill marked "paid-in-full" and the name and license # of the FFL who would dispose of the guns.

My suggestion: if you are so affected, arrange to have an FFL pick up the guns, then give his receipt to the pistol license section of the PD, along with the decedent's handgun license. This should be perfectly legal in your state.

I also agree with the OP. The years are starting to accumulate and it's time to start thinning out the collection. The less toys I have, the easier it will be for my family.

I just went through this, my doctor who is my personal friend along with my BIL and son will help my wife with disposal of my collection.
Some specific pieces have been designated as to who receives them. Whatever is left is to be sold.
After I'm gone......No worries at least on my part!

If I know my time is approaching, I will distribute my collection to my friends. If I suddenly check out without any warning, then my will has a list of my firearms and who they are to go to.

Perhaps most of us are reasonably sure that we'll "buy the farm" after driving away after firing 50 rounds in to the 10X ring at the range. Unanticipated heart attacks, terminal illnesses, automobile accidents, etc. are not in our equation. However, if you live in the Atlanta area or drive anywhere on the interstate highways at any time, you need a will and it should always be up to date. We now live in a violent society for which there is no guarantee about tomorrow. The local news recently reported that a 65-year old woman was killed in Florida as she crossed the street. I believe that she was hit by a 17-year old on a dirt bike.

If you had planned to give all of your firearms to Uncle Louie, who recently moved from Georgia to New Jersey (or California, Massachusetts, or New York), and then Uncle Louie was later convicted of a felony, what do we do now, lieutenant?

Will your plans meet the BATF requirements?
Transfers of National Firearms Act Firearms in Decedents? Estates | ATF

What about the state laws?

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That's what we do!

Well, you guys sure know how to put a damper on the party....

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

been thinking the same thing since march when I found out about my prostate cancer. it is gone, but at 64.5 I just don't have the interest I once had. I've sold a few and plan on selling a few more soon. I'm updating my list of who gets what in the way of firearms etc. lee

I will turn 70 next year and I know it is time to start seriously thinning
the herd. It's just hard to do. After so many years of being in
acquisition mode it's hard to accept the change in perception of
yourself and possessions that growing older requires. But...it has to be
done.

In my humble opinion a living trust is the best way to go, if there are any assets to speak of. As the executor of my Mothers estate I was able to follow her wishes (per her will) and distribute a fairly large estate in less than six weeks. Did not incur any legal fees, nor was probate necessary. Only a small fee to the CPA for getting the estate federal tax I.D. number and start the federal tax preparation. The bankers and broker charged NO fees as they wanted to assure they would maintain the family business.

As for myself, I’m paring down my personal property and the only real property we have is the house. All my firearms and related accessories are going to a good friend. The two knives I have that have any value are going to another friend, and the Lovely and Charming gets the rest.

November 2014, is the target date to have my will updated and a restatement of the living trust done. I can’t keep putting it off any longer.

Giving stuff to people you care about while you are living, can be a lot of fun. My late Mother gave her relatives half of their inheritance at Christmas one year. She said she wanted to see them enjoy it, and she didn't need it. They were all shocked. One of our best Christmas'

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Its likely that only a tiny percentage of the readers here have *any* NFA firearms (machine guns, silencers, etc.) so this link isn't applicable to most of the forum members.

Recently discussed with my only son. Told him he can pick anything he wants. I'll guide him in the Family guns and collectables.

As far as I know, we only go this way once. A long time ago I thought I was invinceable. Recent events prove me a realist. Make a plan and reduce the burdon on your survivors.

Then go out and PARTY!

Well, heck, I see I'm still doing things WRONG!!

I'll be 77 this month and I'm still adding guns to the mix. I have another S&W coming in real soon...

NOW you tell me I should be SELLING..................

OK, I'll think about it!!!

If you have something you want to go to a particular person it is best to get it to them while you are alive. I helped my good friends family and the fighting over everything was ugly.

My thoughts are forget about dieing and make every day count, there is no second chance. Have fun and quit worrying.

......that the end is usually unexpected. My first job after college was as a Forward Observer in the Central Highlands. A good friend went out one Sunday morning to watch the guys pitch horseshoes on the firebase. They started to take 122 rockets, and my friend went MIA until they found one of his boots a week later. Seems the first rocket centered him up.

After two open-heart ops, failed bypasses, ablation and stents, I expect to go without much advance notice. Er, wait, mebbe that IS advanced notice.

I'm giving most of my 'good' guns to specific relatives, with the "trading stock" to be sold to benefit my gun club. The house goes to my niece. I'm also leaving $15K for a party after the funeral. I intend to be remembered for a while.

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Long Barrel
Retired Artilleryman

I confronted my own mortality 44 years ago, I figure everything since then is bonus time. . I don't collect guns, just shoot them. If I go, everything goes to my wife, if we both go at the same time, it goes to my son. After that, I really don't care.

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Minimize the variables

Biginge: Your sense of humor suggests more years, yet, but when you do decide to "reduce" please keep us S&W Forum youngsters (by 10 years in my case) in mind, especially if a first, second or third generation semi-automatic. Furthermore, I'm a lover; not a flipper.

Best,

DC

I've given it a lot of thought and decided that I'm taking them with me.

Maybe putting that favorite S&W under that satin pillow would be a good idea. Our Heaven will be full of ammunition, right?

LTC

I am certainly not attempting to "put rain on anyone's parade", but I also understand how strict the firearm transfer and ownership laws are today with me (the owner) being present. It could become a lot more complicated after I am no longer here.

Although not a firearm, a close friend of mine, who was married, had the title to his home in both their names. He assumed that the entire ownership would pass to his wife after he died. He was killed unexpectedly in an aircraft accident. After the funeral she wanted to sell their home and move from the east coast to the west coast. It required more than five years of administrative work and a lot of unnecessary legal costs before she could actually close on the sale.

While the information in the hyperlink below is from a law firm in Pennsylvania, it should provide most of the information that I believe is relevant to these situations, instead of the NFA reference in my earlier post. An attorney who has experience in this area in your state, and the state of the intended recipient, is the best person to contact.

Gun Control Laws & Inheritance, Federal Firearms Laws, Inheriting Guns

Challenges to a will or the distribution from an estate by anyone (friends, relatives, creditors, charities, etc.) can often be difficult and cause there to be unnecessary legal expenses. I believe that it was the late, great Bob Hope who included a provision in his will that if anyone challenged his will, they would receive nothing. We have a similar clause in our wills.

My personal thanks to all of the forum members who are contributing to this discussion.

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That's what we do!

Wouldn't be Heaven without ammo...and no shortages!

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Brad

This whole mess you describe above is so wrong on so many levels.

It sounds as though many of us are frying a few brain cells with the thought that we are now in the autumn of our years. I've survived one serious automobile accident, Vietnam, prostate cancer, two heavy caliber bullets that passed close enough for me to hear them whistling through the brush while deer hunting, and now a heart ailment.

Only one of my three sons has an interest in guns. He'll take what he wants and I'll eventually sell most of the rest. The problem is, many of my guns are like faithful friends. I no longer use my Ruger Deerstalker carbine but I've taken 11 bucks with it including an 8 pointer. It would be like a betrayal to sell that baby.

My father always made it clear that my brother and I were to take what we wanted, and the rest was to be sold to benefit my mother, if she was still alive. That is what occurred, and I hope to have the same happen for my children and spouse when I move on. Thankfully, we don't have a lot of family drama/multiple spouses, multiple baby mommas, etc. to deal with.

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I have giving it some thought at age 68. As long as I was in good health I was not too worried, as my younger brother will get them all and he is a more avid collector than I am. Still as my health recently took a turn for the worse, I may begin to sell off some of the guns that I have that are not in pristine condition as far as cosmetics are concerned.

All my guns are in excellent shape as far as mechanical and functional condition. I will just keep those that are truly pristine and that I know my brother would enjoy having.

I will also keep my 3 12 gauge pump shotguns that now have replaced my three 4006TSW pistols that were my primary home defense weapons. I still have the three 40006TSW’s in place, but my aim and all is not what it used to be, and I am more and more going to my shotguns for most uses.

Still it will be hard to sell any of my third generation handguns, or my 649 or my 49, which are about the perfect pocket guns, ever made.

So I may reduce my collection by 50% or so, before it becomes painful to sell any more. LOL

Still like to buy a gun every once in awhile. Every now and then will give one of my guns to my two grandsons. Just gave my old model 36 to my grandson when he graduated from the police academy for a backup. When I die I told them to flip a coin for first pick and then keep going until they run out. A few years back gave each one of my two long guns. A ruger ss 10 22 and Winchester 30 30. Got the urge the other day to do some plinking, guess I'll go looking for another 22 rifle. My wife asked when am I going to grow up.I told her when I stop collecting guns and pickups it will be time to go.

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Semper Fi until I die

I got rid of many before moving to Oregon. Just kept my hunting guns.Now they seem to grow more & more every year. I have a living trust will so add them annually to the kids.

I am 68, bad heart and bad back, Iv'e told my wife kids and grandkids take what you want and sell the rest, I can see them going through my treasures like it was Christmas , I have a lot of old things stashed away just for this purpose. Makes me feel good to know they will enjoy instead of mourning.

If I go before I have cashed in the collection, then my brother is the new benefactor and trustee of the 2hawk firearms trust. But, the ownership of the guns is not being transferred, just a change of management. I would suggest this route to anyone who wishes to keep their firearms away from probate lawyers.

NOTE: IANAL, and only know what I learned on the internet/ That is all.

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Most here seem to worry about what is gonna happen and that somehow you will worry about something after it happens.
Blessings

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TEXAS, by GOD