Can I sell my old rifle to a friend? Are some people barred from owning or buying a gun? And most importantly, do individual states have different laws governing the sale of firearms within private networks? Let’s find out. And while you are at it, feel free to grab our free, editable Firearm Bill of Sale to finalize gun sales in a legal & transparent way!
What’s a Firearm Bill of Sale?
A Firearm Bill of Sale is a legal document used to buy, sell, or otherwise legally transfer ownership of a firearm. It is particularly common in transactions involving two private parties, ensuring legal protection & security for both.
As a legal ownership document, the bill of sale also acts as an essential record for law enforcement and regulatory compliance.
Without a written record of the transaction, you can not prove that a sale took place on a certain date and location on specific stated terms. In this way, a bill of sale protects both parties from future legal troubles, false pre-sale claims, or later-discovered faults in the firearm.
What We Offer
Our team of business experts & form designers has developed a pre-formatted Bill of Sales designed to help you execute a firearm sale in the U.S.
For user ease, this template is available in multiple formats. Download a PDF to print, and fill in the required fields by hand. Need to make changes? You can simply edit the document online using Google Docs or any cloud-based editor.
Feel free to tailor individual sections or information fields as per the nature of your transaction & the legal requirements applicable in your area.
For offline editing, use an editable Word version of the document to tweak the font style, size, and color to your needs & preferences.
What Does The Law Say
Firearm sales are governed by the Gun Control Act of 1968, which obligates anyone engaged in the business of buying & selling firearms to have a valid Federal Firearms License.
In most cases, private gun owners do need an FFL to sell to another private party, unless required by state or local laws.
Who’s Covered?
- Gun shops
- Firearm dealers
- Pawn shops
- Manufacturers
- Importers
Essentially, for any person or business engaged in the business of selling firearms, an FFL is legally required in ALL 50 U.S. states! All FFLs are issued & regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, also known as the ATF.
The Exception to the Rule
Unlike intra-state sales, when it comes to private sales happening across state lines, it is mandatory to have an FFL. This ensures that transactions are conducted under regulated and standardized procedures across the country.
Why Do I Need a Bill of Sale
Whether you are looking to sell, buy, gift, trade, or otherwise legally transfer a firearm, you need a bill of sale to:
- Lay down the terms & conditions of the sale
- Accurately identify the firearm in question
- Protect the legal & financial interests of both parties
- Ensure compliance with relevant state, federal, or county laws
In cases where firearms are gifted or passed on through inheritance, a bill of sale can help clarify the transfer of ownership and provide legal protection. If your transaction involves a gift or trade, use the alternative template in our file package (Version II).
Download Alternate Version
Download Alternate Version
All About Firearms!
As an umbrella term, firearms can refer to any weapon. You can use this premade bill of sale to buy or sell:
- Pistols
- Revolvers
- Shotguns
- Rifles
What’s Included in a Firearm Bill of Sale
As a document of legal and practical value, a bill of Sale must contain all the information you need to effectively process, finalize, and document the sale or transfer of firearms between two parties.
Standard elements of a typical Firearm Bill of Sale signed in the U.S:
- Date of transaction
- Location of the sale
- The name and contact details of the buyer
- The name and contact details of the seller
- A detailed description of the firearm being sold or transferred (see below)
- Condition of the weapon (whether the gun needs repairs or not)
- Paid purchase price
- Method of processing payment
- Legal warranties or guarantees (if offered by seller)
- Legal disclosures by the buyer
- Legal disclosures by the seller
- The dated signatures of the buyer and seller
- Witness signatures (if required by law)
Legal Disclosures
Unlike regular bills of sale, firearm bills of sale must include dedicated sections for both parties (buyer and seller) to disclose or divulge any specific information that they are required to as a matter of law. These legal disclosures are, of course, guided by the fact that firearms are potentially dangerous and deadly machines capable of posing a serious threat to the safety and well-being of the public.
In our template, we include multiple statements for the seller and buyer. Here’s the crux of it…
For sellers
Seller must use this form to confirm that:
- All details about the firearm are true to the best of their knowledge
- They have the legal title & right to sell or transfer
- The serial number on the firearm is legible
- The firearm is in working condition
- The firearm has not been used in any crime
- No other party has legally claimed the firearm as theirs
- The seller has claimed or disclaimed responsibility for the firearm after the sale
For buyers
Buyers must leave or check each box to indicate if they :
- Hold U.S citizenship
- Are prohibited by law from owning a firearm
- Satisfy the age requirement of owning a firearm
- Have been convicted of a felony or other disqualifying crime
- Were (or not) declared mentally unstable or weak in the past
- Are you addicted to any illegal substances
- Satisfy all license and permit requirements
- Hold a valid concealed carry permit, if such a permit is required
Supporting Documents
Supporting documents aren’t just paperwork—they’re your legal safety net. When attached to a Bill of Sale, they ensure proper documentation and protect both parties from future disputes.
Common supporting documents attached to a Firearm Bill of Sale to protect both parties:
- Copies of Government-Issued ID (Buyer & Seller)
- Firearm registration documents (if applicable)
- Concealed Carry Permit (if applicable)
- Background Check receipt (if required by state law)
- Firearm Condition Report
- Original purchase receipt
- Manufacturer’s manual
- Statement of Legal Eligibility (wherein both parties declare they’re legally allowed to buy/sell firearms)
- Notary Acknowledgment Form (if so required or preferred)
- Recent photos of the firearm
Finalizing the Sale: Sign, Verify & Notarize!
To make it legally binding, both parties must sign and date the document to acknowledge that they have read the terms & conditions of the sale.
To add an extra layer of verification, have the document signed by two witnesses, preferably one representing each party to the sale. Witness signatures may be a legal requirement in some states. Be sure to check local laws & regulations on the use or sale of firearms in your area.
You also need to notarize the document by signing it in the presence of a Notary Public, who then adds their official seal and signature. This ensures the sale is not taking place under duress or in bad faith.
Additional Requirements
In addition to federal regulations like the Gun Control Act of 1968, individual US states may impose additional requirements, such as:
- Mandatory background checks
- Waiting periods
- Registration or permit-to-purchase laws
- Limits on the type of firearm sold (e.g., restrictions on assault weapons or high-capacity magazines)
Law Tips & Fun Facts!
- Under federal law, you must be 18 or older to buy rifles or shotguns, and 21 or older to buy handguns from a licensed dealer anywhere in the U.S.
- Most states do NOT require firearms to be registered; however, some states, like California, New York & Hawaii do!
- In some states, having a Concealed Carry Permit may be required for private handgun purchases
- Most states do not require a background check for private sales. But some do. Run a quick Google search to find out if this legal requirement applies to you!
- All FFL businesses have to abide by certain procedures, including customer background checks, in order to allow customers to purchase firearms from them.
- California consistently ranks as having the strictest gun laws in the country!
Target Users
- Firearm dealers
- Licensed retailers
- Private buyers & sellers
- Gun collectors
- Gun enthusiasts
You Might Also Be Interested In…
Wrap Up
Whether you are a gun enthusiast or a commercial dealer, a bill of sale acts as legal proof that a certain firearm was sold and transferred between two identifiable parties, usually private individuals, on certain terms laid out in writing, and signed in the presence of witnesses.
Use our court-ready, printable document to ensure your next firearm transaction is safe, secure, transparent, and fully compliant with the law.
