Guides
Firearms in a deceased estate: guides for executors, attorneys and heirs
What the Firearms Control Act asks of an executor, the documents involved, what it costs and what sets the pace, and what an heir needs to keep a firearm. Each guide gives the short answer first and cites its sources.
- Firearms in a deceased estate in South Africa: executor's guide The executor's duties under Regulation 103, the options for each firearm, storage, transport, costs and the High Court order of 15 September 2026, with a checklist.
- Inheriting a firearm in South Africa: what an heir needs The competency certificate, the licence application and motivation, the safe, waiting times, and what happens meanwhile or if the licence is refused.
- Om 'n vuurwapen te erf: wat 'n erfgenaam nodig het The guide for heirs in Afrikaans.
- Vuurwapens in 'n bestorwe boedel: 'n gids vir eksekuteurs The executors' and attorneys' guide in Afrikaans.
- Documents for firearms in a deceased estate in South Africa: a checklist The documents an executor needs for firearms in a South African estate: SAPS 518, the Regulation 103 notice, storage consent and the Registry notice.
- What firearms in a deceased estate cost, and how long it takes Who pays for estate firearms in South Africa, Firearmdesk's published fees, and what sets the pace of each stage from appointment to finalisation.
- Can an executor handle estate firearms, or do you need a specialist? An executor in South Africa can deal with estate firearms under Regulation 103. What it involves, when a specialist helps and what to ask any provider.
- Estate firearms in South Africa: questions executors and heirs ask Direct answers on estate firearms in South Africa: keeping a late parent's firearm, storage, licences, sale, transport, expired licences and finalising.
- The High Court order of 15 September 2026 on estate firearms, explained What the High Court order of 15 September 2026 declared about estate firearms in South Africa, what SAPS must do, what it left open and where it stands.
- Regulation 103: what an executor must do with a deceased person's firearms Regulation 103 of the Firearms Control Regulations in plain language: each sub-regulation, the 14-day notice, reports and finalisation in South Africa.
- Storing firearms from a deceased estate in South Africa Who may lawfully store firearms from a deceased estate in South Africa, what a dealer records, who pays and how storage is charged.
- Do you have to register an inherited firearm in South Africa? South Africa has no separate registration for an inherited firearm: the heir applies for a competency certificate and a licence in their own name.
- Which forms transfer a deceased person's firearm to an heir or buyer in South Africa? No single form transfers a deceased person's firearm in South Africa: an heir uses SAPS 517 and SAPS 271; on a sale, the dealer completes the transfer forms.
- Do you need a section 21 permit to hold a deceased person's firearm in South Africa? A section 21 authorisation lets someone hold a deceased person's firearms before the executor is appointed. Who may apply, form SAPS 518 and its limits.
- How do I contact the Central Firearms Registry about a deceased person's firearms? The Central Firearms Registry contact details SAPS publishes, what an executor sends the Registrar for an estate, and when to ask the DFO first.
- How to sell a firearm from a deceased estate in South Africa An executor in South Africa cannot sell an estate firearm privately: it goes through a licensed dealer, on the executor's instruction, to a licensed buyer.
- How do you surrender a deceased person's firearm to the police in South Africa? An executor can ask to surrender a deceased person's firearm at a police station under Regulation 94. What it involves, when it suits and what to keep.
- Found a firearm in a deceased estate that was never licensed? What to do in South Africa What to do when a deceased person's firearm in South Africa has no licence: do not use or move it, report it and ask your Designated Firearms Officer.
- What to do with a deceased person's ammunition in South Africa Who may keep a deceased person's ammunition in South Africa, how the executor stores and lists it, and the lawful ways to transfer, sell or hand it in.
- What if no heir wants the deceased's firearm in South Africa? If no heir wants a deceased person's firearm in South Africa, it is sold through a licensed dealer, deactivated or surrendered to the police.
- Who inherits a firearm in South Africa if there is no will? A firearm in an intestate estate in South Africa goes to the heirs the Intestate Succession Act names; the Firearms Control Act decides who may keep it.
- Estate firearms glossary: SAPS forms, DFO, CFR and the terms executors meet Plain definitions of the SAPS forms, offices, regulations and storage terms an executor or heir meets with firearms in a South African estate.
- Eksekuteursfooie in Suid-Afrika, en wat vuurwapens in 'n boedel kos Eksekuteursfooie in Suid-Afrika: 3,5% van die bruto waarde van die bates en 6% van inkomste, minimum R350, en wat vuurwapens by die koste voeg.
- Moet u 'n geërfde vuurwapen in Suid-Afrika registreer? Suid-Afrika het geen aparte registrasie vir 'n geërfde vuurwapen nie: die erfgenaam doen aansoek om 'n bevoegdheidsertifikaat en lisensie.
- Hoe verkoop u 'n vuurwapen uit 'n bestorwe boedel in Suid-Afrika? 'n Eksekuteur in Suid-Afrika kan nie 'n boedelvuurwapen privaat verkoop nie: dit gaan deur 'n gelisensieerde handelaar, op die eksekuteur se opdrag.
- Wie erf die vuurwapen in Suid-Afrika as daar geen testament is nie? Sonder testament gaan 'n vuurwapen na die erfgename wat die Wet op Intestate Erfopvolging noem; die Wet op Beheer van Vuurwapens bepaal wie dit mag hou.
Rather hand the firearms work over? Refer the estate.
We carry the Firearms Control Act work from authority to closure, and your firm keeps the record.