A trust is the only way to go when it comes to NFA stuff, provided your state recognizes revocable trusts.
Here's why:
1) no CLEO signoff
2) no fingerprints
3) no photo
4) gun can be possessed and used by any trustee listed in the trust provided they can legally possess the firearm by other means. In MA that means for a trustee to take possession
of an NFA firearm they need to have the appropriate credentials, i.e. MG license, LTC, FID, etc. Appropriate licensing is not required to be a trustee, just
required to take physical possession of the gun. In CT for example, no licensing is required to own any guns, so a trustee could take possession of any NFA item without any licenses.
I'm not sure how NH works, but this is a local thing, that I'm sure the OP is up on. MG license required? MG legal? Silencers legal?
5) ease of transition in the case of your death.
6) save money in the case of your death. Both 5 and 6 are done by simply adding the name of the person you want the guns to go to as a trustee on the trust.
7) Quicker turnaround by the ATF NFA branch on transfers because they do not have to wait for FBI fingerprints to be processed.
There are 3 ways to do a trust.
1) the quick and cheap way with Quicken Willmaker - this seems to work well enough. I might use this if I was going to simply register a couple of AR lowers (worth about $100 ea) or an inexpensive .22 can.
2) The right way with an attorney - this is a must if you are going to have some value to your trust. It minimizes the chance that at some point the trust may be declared invalid.
3) The REALLY right way with an attorney who knows about the specifics of a trust that exists for the purpose of owning firearms.
My trust falls into category 2. It was done by an attorney and I'm sure is in compliance with all requirements for it to be valid.
however for no more money, you can get a trust tailored to the unique requirements of a gun trust. I mention this to you after talking to Jeff Crown of Rocky Hill, CT. (trustlawyer.com)
Jeff is a gun nut and IDPA shooter. He's also a trust and estate attorney. He advised me that he is currently the CT representative for guntrustlawyer.com who has developed a specific trust format that maximizes your protections when your trust is used to own firearms.
I don't know who the MA or NH attorneys are. But Jeff Suggested that if I knew someone who needed to do a trust in MA or any state other than CT, i contact guntrustlawyer.com and they will give a referral to someone in whatever state you live in.
The great thing about a trust is that it makes doing a form 1 or form 4 a 15 minute affair. Not 5 hour project that involves CLEO signoff, photos and prints.
Let me know if there's anything else I can add.
Don
**edit** - I just got off the phone with guntrustlawyer.com folks and the price is $750. The process begins with them and ends with a local atty who reviews the trust for compliance with local law. I do believe this is the best way to go now. Pricing is competitive and someone I know and trust, who is a trust attorney has recommended this company.
I have confirmed that they offer this in both NH and MA.
![[wink]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/002.gif "Wink [wink]")
From what I understand, the TA5 (Thompson pistol) is designed to not accept a stock so I'm sure there'd be some some gunsmithing needed there. With the long barrel being cut and reshaped, there's no need to headspace. The shop has done a couple already so I'll let them deal with reattaching the front sight and compensator. It can't be that big of a deal... The total cost on removing the barrel, cutting the barrel, reinstalling the barrel and the sight and compensator is only $150.
