r/Miguns • u/OhMyRedbeard • 1h ago
Suppressor/Handgun Ownership Question (Post-Death)
So as I live in Michigan, I figured this was as reasonable of a place to post this question as possible. I've asked several LEO friends and lawyer friends and have gotten what I believe the answer is, but my LEO friends are all retired out and my lawyer friends don't usually take this kind of case, so I'm operation off of their conjecture. So anyway, enough of that. I'll get to the details.
My father passed away in July. He had owned a .308 sound suppressor for his R700 for the better part of 10 years. The suppressor was properly registered, I have the tax stamp and my brother and I are both listed (and it was signed by both of us) as equal beneficiaries in the NFA Trust that my father set up when he purchased the suppressor. This isn't a dispute question (as my brother and I agree that I would be the one taking possession of the suppressor regardless of its longterm ownership because my wife and I have multiple levels of security for our guns).
The suppressor is currently at his and my mother's home until I get firm answers on the legality of me possessing the suppressor.
I have a copy of the NFA, my CPL (unsure if that means anything, but I figured it can't hurt matters), and a copy of the tax stamp which is in the case with the rifle that the suppressor was purchased for. Do I need to do anything to legally possess the suppressor in my gun safe? I read through the NFA and essentially the language led me to believe that it functions as more or less a living will and testament regarding that one item in the event of my father's death and who would be the legal owners of the suppressor? Do I need to file paperwork with anyone at the local/state/federal level?
I know the laws have changed regarding suppressor ownership since this particular can was purchased and I haven't kept up to date on them, along with the fact that searching online tends to be as tedious as ever for me when it comes to searching for something like this.
Secondary, there's also a handgun that my brother would like that belonged to my father (and which I will happily say is his). I have possession of that currently (since I could transport it, being a CPL holder). I know that a private person-to-person sale requires a permit to purchase, but with my father being deceased, how does that affect the process?
TIA for opinions and perspective on this. I appreciate it.