What probate courts usually expect for firearms

Most probate courts ask the executor or administrator to file an inventory of the estate's assets with a value for each item as of the date of death. Firearms are usually listed individually with make, model, caliber or gauge, serial number and condition.

Rules differ by state and county. Some courts accept the executor's good-faith estimate for ordinary personal property; others require a qualified appraiser for items above a set value or when heirs disagree. Ask the court clerk or the estate's attorney what your court requires.

Estate inventories generally use fair market value: the price a willing buyer and a willing seller would agree on, neither being forced to act and both knowing the relevant facts. Retail replacement or insurance values are usually not the right figure for an inventory.

That is why every Proofmark report states fair market value as its conclusion and shows other market levels only for reference.

A Proofmark report is a photo-based estimate that helps you organise the collection, document condition and understand likely value. It is a sound starting point and a useful record, but it is not a guarantee that any court, the IRS or another party will accept it.

For high-value or disputed collections, or when your attorney advises it, have a qualified appraiser inspect the firearms in person.

Executors must follow federal, state and local law when storing, transferring or distributing firearms, including any background-check or licensed-dealer requirements. Proofmark does not buy, sell or broker firearms. Ask the estate's attorney or a licensed dealer how transfers work in your state.