Pennsylvania NFA Gun Trusts
By Sean Quinlan, Esq. · Updated January 15, 2025
A gun trust is a specialized revocable trust designed to hold NFA-regulated firearms — suppressors, short-barreled rifles, machine guns. Pennsylvania residents use them to avoid the felony risk of casual inheritance.
Why a trust
NFA items can only be possessed by registered owners. A trust lets multiple co-trustees lawfully possess and use, and pre-arranges legal transfer at death.
ATF Form 5
Tax-free transfer to beneficiaries on the death of the settlor — but only if the trust was properly registered.
Non-NFA firearms
Conventional rifles, shotguns, and handguns can also be held in the trust, simplifying estate transfers and travel between states.
This article is general information about Pennsylvania law as of the update date above. It is not legal advice for your situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice on your specific facts, please schedule a consultation.
Talk with a Pennsylvania estate planning attorney.
Most plans take two meetings. The first is a consultation — clear, honest, and free of pressure.