Legal Templates

Minnesota Firearm Bill of Sale Form

Create a Minnesota firearm bill of sale from our attorney-drafted document builder so you can record a gun sale and ownership transfer.

Updated March 20, 2023 | Legally reviewed by Susan Chai, Esq.

Learn how to write a Minnesota Firearm Bill of Sale, with tips on what items to include, and how to write your bill of sale form.

Table of Contents

What Is a Minnesota Firearm Bill of Sale?

A Minnesota firearm bill of sale records the transfer of ownership of a firearm from the seller to the buyer.

This legal document includes the date and details of the sales transaction, information about the parties involved, and a firearm description. 

What Are the Requirements for Selling a Firearm in Minnesota?

Private Parties Selling Firearms in Minnesota

Private residents in Minnesota who can legally purchase and own a firearm are also allowed to sell one in a private transaction.

Buyers purchasing a firearm in Minnesota are required to have one of these documents:

A permit to purchase or transfer a firearm in Minnesota is good for one year from the date it is issued, while a permit to carry is valid for five years from the time it’s issued and authorizes unlimited purchases of firearms during that period.

A valid permit to carry constitutes a permit to purchase.

Does the Law in Minnesota Require a Firearm Bill of Sale?

Minnesota state law requires anyone selling or transferring ownership of a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon to report the transfer in writing within three days to the appropriate law enforcement agency in the buyer’s county of residence (MN Statutes § 624.7132).

The form must be signed by both the seller and the potential buyer.

There are exceptions to filing a transfer report including for transfers of antique firearms, transfers to or federally licensed firearms dealers, and if the buyer has a valid permit to purchase or permit to carry.

The information in the Minnesota firearm bill of sale form shows that you sold a firearm in good faith to a buyer you believed was legally eligible to own it. It also proves that possession of the weapon changed hands.

A Minnesota firearm bill of sale protects you if the circumstances of the sale or ownership are later questioned.

Gun Inheritance Laws in Minnesota

Anyone legally eligible to carry or own a firearm in Minnesota may gift or transfer ownership of a firearm to another.

The recipient must also be legally eligible to carry or own and must either have a permit to carry or obtain a permit to purchase/transfer the firearm.

Law enforcement must notify you of a decision within seven days of receiving your application for a permit to purchase/transfer. If you are denied a permit, you can appeal the decision (MN Statutes § 624.7132(13)).

Documents Needed to Complete a Firearm Bill of Sale in Minnesota

You will need to ask the buyer for a copy of his or her Minnesota permit to carry or permit to purchase/transfer a firearm before completing the sale or exchange.

You should also ask to see a Minnesota state-issued ID to verify the person’s identity, age, and eligibility to purchase the weapon.

Additional Minnesota Firearm Laws

Who Cannot Purchase a Firearm in Minnesota?

According to Minnesota Statues § 624.713, the following individuals in the state are prohibited from owning a firearm:

  • Anyone under 18 unless they are supervised by a parent or guardian or are a member of the armed forces
  • Persons with pending legal actions or convictions involving a violent crime in Minnesota or elsewhere
  • Individuals who are developmentally disabled or have been committed to a treatment facility for mental illness or have been found incompetent to stand trial for a crime by reason of insanity
  • Persons convicted of a misdemeanor within the past three years
  • Persons who have been to a drug treatment center for the habitual use of a controlled substance or those currently unlawfully using a controlled substance
  • Anyone charged with committing a crime of violence who has entered into a diversion agreement with the court, until that diversion is up
  • A person convicted of domestic voice against a family or household member within the past three years
  • A person convicted of assaulting a family or household member who used a firearm during the assault may not possess a firearm as outlined in their sentencing agreement
  • Anyone convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment of more than one year
  • A fugitive from justice
  • Anyone in the United States illegally
  • Persons who have been dishonorably discharged from a branch of the United States military
  • Any person who has renounced his or her U.S. citizenship
  • Individuals who are the subject of an order for protection against another person or persons

Does Minnesota Have a Waiting Period for Gun Sales?

Yes. It’s illegal for a seller to deliver a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon to a buyer in Minnesota until a minimum of five business days after the notice of transfer was delivered to the buyer’s local law enforcement agency (MN Statutes § 624.7132(4)).

Can You Buy a Firearm in Minnesota Without Registering It?

State law prohibits any government agency from requiring private citizens to register privately-owned firearms that are possessed or carried lawfully (MN Statutes § 624.711).

Does a Firearm Bill of Sale Have To Be Notarized in Minnesota?

Notarization is not required.

Is a Record of Firearms Sent to Police in Minnesota?

Only the sale or transfer of pistols and semiautomatic military-style assault weapons must be reported to the buyer’s local law enforcement agency for background checks.

Concealed and Open Carry Laws in Minnesota

How to Apply To Carry a Firearm in Minnesota

You must be 21 years or older. Applications to carry a firearm, openly or concealed, in public in Minnesota can be obtained from and submitted to your local sheriff’s office in the county where the buyer resides.

Along with the application, you must prove that you have completed a training course in the safe use of a handgun from a certified instructor within the last year (MN Statutes § 624.714(2a)). 

The law enforcement agency has up to 30 days to process your application and provide you with a decision.

Minnesota Firearm Reciprocity

Minnesota recognizes permits to carry from these other states: 

  • Alaska​
  • ​Delaware
  • Idaho (Enhanced permit only)
  • ​Illinois
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Michigan
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • ​​North Dakota (Class 1 License only)
  • Rhode Island
  • ​South Carolina
  • ​South Dakota (Enhanced permit only)
  • West Virginia (Regular permit only)

Nonresidents of Minnesota can carry a weapon if they hold a permit from a state with Minnesota reciprocity.

How to Write a Firearm Bill of Sale in Minnesota

Step 1 – Research Your Local Gun Laws

All Michigan residents who want to sell or buy a firearm should know local gun laws.

Step 2 – Meet With the Potential Buyer 

You will need to ask to see the buyer’s permit to carry or permit to purchase or transfer to determine whether they are eligible to purchase the weapon.

You should also ask for a state-issued ID to verify your age.

Step 3 – Arrange for an In-person Exchange

If you’re selling a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon, you must wait at least five business days after you’ve notified the buyer’s local sheriff’s department before handing over the firearm.

Step 4- Complete a Firearm Bill of Sale

Gather all necessary information, including names, contact information, description and the serial number of the firearm being sold, and the terms of the sale.

Have both parties sign the document.

Summary

Minnesota requires residents to complete a purchase/transfer form when selling a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon unless certain exceptions apply.

A firearm bill of sale includes the same information needed to obtain a permit to carry or purchase a firearm in Minnesota.

Use our Minnesota firearm bill of sale builder, and download your document in Word and PDF formats to help you get started today.

Minnesota Firearm Bill of Sale Sample

Below is an example of what a Minnesota firearm bill of sale looks like.

minnesota firearm bill of sale