Colorado Gun Trust / NFA Trust

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COLORADO GUN TRUST / NFA TRUST

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Declaration of Trust
  2. Definitions
  3. Trust Property
  4. Trustee Powers and Duties
  5. Responsible Persons (ATF Rule 41F)
  6. Beneficiary Provisions
  7. Successor Trustee
  8. Amendment and Revocation
  9. Distribution Upon Death of Settlor
  10. Colorado State Law Provisions
  11. Federal NFA Compliance
  12. Signatures and Notarization

1. DECLARATION OF TRUST

Trust Name: [________________________________________]

Date of Execution: [__/__/____]

I, [SETTLOR FULL LEGAL NAME], residing at [________________________________________], City of [________________], County of [________________], State of Colorado, hereby establish this revocable inter vivos trust (the "Trust") for the purpose of acquiring, holding, managing, and transferring firearms, including items regulated under the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. § 5841 et seq.

This Trust is established pursuant to the Colorado Uniform Trust Code, C.R.S. § 15-5-101 et seq.


2. DEFINITIONS

"Firearm" means any weapon as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(3) and C.R.S. § 18-1-901(3)(h).

"NFA Item" means any firearm regulated under 26 U.S.C. §§ 5841–5872 and 27 C.F.R. Part 479, including but not limited to:

Category Federal Authority
Suppressors / silencers 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a)(7)
Short-barreled rifles (SBR) 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a)(3)–(4)
Short-barreled shotguns (SBS) 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a)(1)–(2)
Machine guns (pre-May 19, 1986 manufacture only) 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b); 18 U.S.C. § 922(o)
Destructive devices (DDs) 26 U.S.C. § 5845(f)
Any Other Weapons (AOWs) 26 U.S.C. § 5845(e)

"Large-Capacity Magazine" means a fixed or detachable magazine, box, drum, feed strip, or similar device capable of accepting more than fifteen (15) rounds of ammunition, as defined in C.R.S. § 18-12-301(2)(a), excluding magazines lawfully possessed in Colorado before July 1, 2013 (grandfathered under C.R.S. § 18-12-302(2)(a)).

"Prohibited Person" means any individual prohibited from possessing firearms under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), 18 U.S.C. § 922(n), C.R.S. § 18-12-108, or C.R.S. § 13-14-105.5 (subject to a domestic-violence or extreme-risk protection order).

"Responsible Person" has the meaning given in 27 C.F.R. § 479.11: the Settlor, each Trustee, and any other person with the power or authority, directly or indirectly, to receive, possess, ship, transport, deliver, transfer, or otherwise dispose of trust firearms.

"CLEO" means the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the locality in which a Responsible Person resides, for purposes of ATF Form 5320.23 notification.


3. TRUST PROPERTY

All firearms and related items transferred to this Trust are listed on Schedule A (attached). The Settlor may add or remove items from Schedule A at any time during the Settlor's lifetime without formal trust amendment, subject to Colorado transfer law (C.R.S. § 18-12-112 universal background check and C.R.S. § 18-12-115 3-day waiting period).

☐ The Settlor has transferred the items listed on Schedule A to the Trust
☐ ATF Form 4 (transfer) submitted for each NFA item transferred to the Trust
☐ ATF Form 1 (make and register) submitted for each NFA item to be manufactured by the Trust
☐ $200 tax stamp paid for each NFA item ($5 for AOWs)
☐ For each Title I firearm transferred to the Trust by a Colorado private party: Colorado universal background check completed through an FFL per C.R.S. § 18-12-112
☐ For each Title I firearm purchase from an FFL or qualifying transfer: Colorado 3-day waiting period observed per C.R.S. § 18-12-115
☐ Each Responsible Person has submitted ATF Form 5320.23, fingerprints (FBI Form FD-258), and a 2x2 passport-style photograph
☐ CLEO notification copy of Form 5320.23 sent to the CLEO of each Responsible Person's residence


4. TRUSTEE POWERS AND DUTIES

Initial Trustee: [________________________________________]

The Trustee shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) Acquire, possess, use, transport, and lawfully transfer firearms on behalf of the Trust, in compliance with all applicable federal, Colorado, and local laws;

(b) Submit ATF Form 4 (transfer) or ATF Form 1 (manufacture) for each NFA item, including fingerprints, photographs, and ATF Form 5320.23 for all Responsible Persons per ATF Rule 41F;

(c) Notify each applicable CLEO of any Form 1 or Form 4 application by serving a copy of ATF Form 5320.23;

(d) Comply with the Colorado 3-day waiting period (C.R.S. § 18-12-115) and universal background check (C.R.S. § 18-12-112) for all Title I firearm acquisitions and transfers, and ensure that any Responsible Person who takes physical possession of a Title I firearm by purchase or transfer is at least 21 years of age (C.R.S. § 18-12-112.5);

(e) Maintain all trust firearms in safe and secure storage in compliance with Colorado's safe-storage requirements (C.R.S. § 18-12-114);

(f) Ensure no Prohibited Person has access to trust firearms;

(g) File ATF Form 5320.20 for interstate transport of SBRs, SBSs, machine guns, or destructive devices;

(h) Pay all federal transfer and making taxes, fees, and Colorado-required background check fees;

(i) Maintain accurate records of all trust firearms, acquisitions, dispositions, and ATF approvals (original tax stamps stored with the trust instrument in a fireproof location);

(j) Ensure that any magazines held by the Trust comply with the 15-round limit of C.R.S. § 18-12-302, or, if grandfathered, are documented as lawfully possessed in Colorado before July 1, 2013.


5. RESPONSIBLE PERSONS (ATF RULE 41F)

The following individuals are designated as Responsible Persons under 27 C.F.R. § 479.11 and may possess and use NFA items held by the Trust:

Responsible Person Name Date of Birth Relationship to Settlor Form 5320.23 Submitted Fingerprints (FD-258) Photograph CLEO Notified
[________________________________] [__/__/____] [________________]
[________________________________] [__/__/____] [________________]
[________________________________] [__/__/____] [________________]

☐ Each Responsible Person has been verified as not a Prohibited Person under federal or Colorado law
☐ Each Responsible Person is at least 18 years of age (and at least 21 if acquiring firearms by purchase or transfer in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-12-112.5)
☐ Each Responsible Person has been verified against the Colorado extreme-risk protection order registry (C.R.S. § 13-14.5-101 et seq.) and the domestic-violence protection order registry
☐ Each new Responsible Person added after initial filing will submit fingerprints, photographs, and Form 5320.23 with the next Form 1 or Form 4 application


6. BENEFICIARY PROVISIONS

Primary Beneficiary(ies):

Name Relationship Date of Birth
[________________________________] [________________] [__/__/____]
[________________________________] [________________] [__/__/____]

Contingent Beneficiary(ies):

Name Relationship Date of Birth
[________________________________] [________________] [__/__/____]

No beneficiary who is a Prohibited Person under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), C.R.S. § 18-12-108, or who is subject to a Colorado extreme-risk protection order (C.R.S. § 13-14.5-101 et seq.) or domestic-violence protection order shall receive any firearm from this Trust. The Trustee shall verify eligibility before any distribution.


7. SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE

If the Initial Trustee is unable, unwilling, or ineligible to serve:

First Successor Trustee: [________________________________________]
Second Successor Trustee: [________________________________________]

Each Successor Trustee must: (a) be at least 21 years of age (consistent with C.R.S. § 18-12-112.5 for any Title I acquisition); (b) not be a Prohibited Person under federal or Colorado law; (c) be a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident eligible to possess firearms under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5); and (d) submit fingerprints, photographs, and ATF Form 5320.23 as a Responsible Person.


8. AMENDMENT AND REVOCATION

The Settlor reserves the right to amend or revoke this Trust at any time during the Settlor's lifetime, pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-5-602. Any amendment or revocation shall be in writing and signed by the Settlor.

Upon revocation, each NFA item shall be transferred to the Settlor individually or to another eligible transferee by ATF Form 4 (with $200 transfer tax per item, or $5 for AOWs), subject to Colorado's universal background check (C.R.S. § 18-12-112) and 3-day waiting period (C.R.S. § 18-12-115) for any Title I firearms.


9. DISTRIBUTION UPON DEATH OF SETTLOR

Upon the death of the Settlor, the Trustee shall:

(a) Within thirty (30) days, inventory all trust firearms and reconcile against ATF tax stamps and the NFRTR;

(b) Verify each beneficiary's eligibility to possess firearms under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), C.R.S. § 18-12-108, and any applicable Colorado protection-order registry;

(c) File ATF Form 5 (Application for Tax Exempt Transfer and Registration of Firearm) for each NFA item being distributed to a lawful heir or beneficiary — Form 5 transfers are tax-exempt under 26 U.S.C. § 5852(b);

(d) Transfer Title I (non-NFA) firearms to eligible beneficiaries through an FFL as required by C.R.S. § 18-12-112, observe the 3-day waiting period under C.R.S. § 18-12-115, and confirm the beneficiary meets the C.R.S. § 18-12-112.5 minimum age of 21;

(e) Surrender to ATF or destroy any item that cannot lawfully be transferred to any beneficiary, including any large-capacity magazine that is neither grandfathered nor exempt under C.R.S. § 18-12-302.


10. COLORADO STATE LAW PROVISIONS

CRITICAL COLORADO OVERLAYS (NFA possession permitted, but Colorado law imposes the following purchase, transfer, and possession restrictions that apply to the Trust):

Colorado Restriction Authority Effective Date Effect on Trust
3-day waiting period on firearm transfers C.R.S. § 18-12-115 (HB 23-1219) Oct. 1, 2023 Trust must wait 3 days between background-check approval and physical possession on Title I acquisitions
Minimum purchase age 21 C.R.S. § 18-12-112.5 (SB 23-169) Aug. 7, 2023 Any Responsible Person taking possession by purchase or transfer must be 21+
Universal background check on private transfers C.R.S. § 18-12-112 July 1, 2013 Most private transfers, including transfers in and out of the Trust, must be processed through an FFL
Large-capacity magazine ban (>15 rounds) C.R.S. § 18-12-301 to -303 (HB 13-1224) July 1, 2013 Trust may possess only ≤15-round magazines, or magazines lawfully possessed in Colorado before July 1, 2013 (grandfathered)
Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) C.R.S. § 13-14.5-101 et seq. (HB 19-1177) Jan. 1, 2020 ERPO subject's firearms (including Trust-held) may be ordered surrendered
Safe storage of firearms C.R.S. § 18-12-114 April 19, 2021 Trust firearms must be stored to prevent unauthorized access by juveniles or prohibited persons
Lost / stolen firearm reporting C.R.S. § 18-12-113 April 19, 2021 Trustee must report lost/stolen Trust firearms within 5 days

NFA Items Under Colorado Law:

NFA Category CO Legal Status Authority
Suppressors / Silencers LAWFUL No state ban; federal NFA registration required
Short-Barreled Rifles LAWFUL No state ban; federal NFA registration required
Short-Barreled Shotguns LAWFUL No state ban; federal NFA registration required
Machine Guns (pre-1986) LAWFUL C.R.S. § 18-12-102 limits "dangerous weapons" but exempts firearms registered under the NFA; federal 18 U.S.C. § 922(o) bars post-5/19/1986 manufacture for civilians
Destructive Devices LAWFUL with NFA registration C.R.S. § 18-12-109 (explosive or incendiary devices); NFA-registered DDs are lawful
Any Other Weapons (AOWs) LAWFUL No state ban

☐ Settlor acknowledges Colorado's 3-day waiting period (C.R.S. § 18-12-115, HB 23-1219, eff. Oct. 1, 2023)
☐ Settlor acknowledges Colorado's age-21 minimum to purchase or take transfer of firearms (C.R.S. § 18-12-112.5, SB 23-169, eff. Aug. 7, 2023)
☐ Settlor acknowledges Colorado's universal background check on private transfers (C.R.S. § 18-12-112)
☐ Settlor acknowledges Colorado's 15-round magazine capacity limit (C.R.S. § 18-12-302) and the pre-July 1, 2013 grandfather provision
☐ Settlor acknowledges Colorado's safe-storage requirement (C.R.S. § 18-12-114) and lost/stolen reporting requirement (C.R.S. § 18-12-113)
☐ Settlor acknowledges Colorado's Extreme Risk Protection Order law (C.R.S. § 13-14.5-101 et seq.)


11. FEDERAL NFA COMPLIANCE

☐ Each NFA item is registered on the NFRTR in the name of the Trust
☐ Original tax stamp (or eForm approval) maintained with trust records for each NFA item
☐ All Responsible Persons have current ATF Form 5320.23, fingerprints (FBI Form FD-258), and photographs on file with the most recent ATF application
☐ CLEO of each Responsible Person's residence notified by mailing or hand-delivering Form 5320.23
☐ ATF Form 5320.20 filed for interstate transport of any SBR, SBS, machine gun, or destructive device
☐ Form 1 ($200 making tax) filed for any item manufactured by the Trust BEFORE manufacture begins
☐ Form 4 ($200 transfer tax; $5 for AOWs) filed BEFORE any inter vivos transfer
☐ Form 5 (tax-exempt) filed for transfer to lawful heir upon Settlor's death


12. SIGNATURES AND NOTARIZATION

SETTLOR:

Signature: ________________________________________
Printed Name: [________________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]

INITIAL TRUSTEE (if different from Settlor):

Signature: ________________________________________
Printed Name: [________________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]


NOTARIZATION

State of Colorado
County of [________________]

On this [____] day of [________________], [________], before me, the undersigned Notary Public in and for the State of Colorado, personally appeared [________________________________________], known to me (or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence) to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument, and acknowledged to me that he/she executed the same in his/her authorized capacity, and that by his/her signature on the instrument the person, or the entity upon behalf of which the person acted, executed the instrument.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

Notary Signature: ________________________________________
Printed Name: [________________________________________]
Commission Expires: [__/__/____]

[NOTARIAL SEAL]


SCHEDULE A — TRUST PROPERTY

Item # Type (Title I / NFA) Manufacturer Model Serial Number Caliber/Gauge NFA Classification ATF Form # Tax Stamp Date Tax Stamp Approved
1 [________] [____________] [________] [________________] [________] [________] [Form 1/4/5] [__/__/____] ☐ Yes ☐ Pending
2 [________] [____________] [________] [________________] [________] [________] [Form 1/4/5] [__/__/____] ☐ Yes ☐ Pending
3 [________] [____________] [________] [________________] [________] [________] [Form 1/4/5] [__/__/____] ☐ Yes ☐ Pending
4 [________] [____________] [________] [________________] [________] [________] [Form 1/4/5] [__/__/____] ☐ Yes ☐ Pending

SCHEDULE B — RESPONSIBLE PERSON ROSTER (ATF RULE 41F)

Name Address DOB SSN (last 4) Date Added Date Removed Form 5320.23 Date CLEO Notified Date
[________________________] [________________________] [__/__/____] [____] [__/__/____] [__/__/____] [__/__/____] [__/__/____]
[________________________] [________________________] [__/__/____] [____] [__/__/____] [__/__/____] [__/__/____] [__/__/____]

SCHEDULE C — MAGAZINE INVENTORY (C.R.S. § 18-12-302 COMPLIANCE)

Magazine # Capacity (rounds) Firearm Paired Pre-July 1, 2013 Grandfathered? Evidence of Lawful Possession
1 [____] [________________] ☐ Yes ☐ No [________________________]
2 [____] [________________] ☐ Yes ☐ No [________________________]

Sources and References

  • 26 U.S.C. § 5841 et seq. — National Firearms Act
  • 27 C.F.R. Part 479 — NFA implementing regulations
  • 27 C.F.R. § 479.11 — Responsible Person definition
  • ATF Rule 41F, 81 Fed. Reg. 2658 (Jan. 15, 2016), effective July 13, 2016
  • ATF Form 1 (5320.1), Form 4 (5320.4), Form 5 (5320.5), Form 5320.20, Form 5320.23
  • C.R.S. § 15-5-101 et seq. — Colorado Uniform Trust Code
  • C.R.S. § 18-12-101 et seq. — Colorado firearms statutes
  • C.R.S. § 18-12-108 — Possession of weapons by previous offenders
  • C.R.S. § 18-12-112 — Universal background check on private transfers
  • C.R.S. § 18-12-112.5 — Minimum age 21 to purchase firearm (SB 23-169)
  • C.R.S. § 18-12-113 — Lost or stolen firearm reporting
  • C.R.S. § 18-12-114 — Safe storage of firearms
  • C.R.S. § 18-12-115 — 3-day waiting period on firearm transfers (HB 23-1219, eff. Oct. 1, 2023)
  • C.R.S. § 18-12-301 to -303 — Large-capacity magazine ban (HB 13-1224)
  • C.R.S. § 13-14.5-101 et seq. — Extreme Risk Protection Orders
  • 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), (n), (o) — Federal prohibited persons and post-1986 machine gun ban

This document is provided as a legal template and does not constitute legal advice. Colorado imposes a 3-day waiting period, age-21 minimum, universal background check, and 15-round magazine limit on most firearm transactions. NFA items remain subject to strict federal regulation. Consult a licensed Colorado firearms attorney before execution.

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Estate planning documents decide what happens to your property, your children, and your medical care when you cannot make those decisions yourself. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives each serve different purposes and each have to meet state law requirements for signing, witnessing, and notarization. A document that looks fine on the page but was not executed correctly can be rejected in probate, which is exactly when it is too late to fix.

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Last updated: May 2026