You’ve done a bunch of online research and you’ve found the exact silencer you want. You’re ready to rush over to the friendly neighborhood NFA dealer and melt down your credit card.

Before you purchase anything, the first step is to decide if you want to setup a Trust or purchase the sound suppressor as an individual.

The most popular method of obtaining NFA items is through an NFA Trust, which is a legal document you’ll want to hire a lawyer to prepare for you.

Some people have had good luck copying the contents from NFA Trusts they found on the internet, but others have gone through nearly the entire NFA process and waited months only to have their applications denied due to technical problems with their NFA Trust document.

In our opinion, it doesn’t pay to take chances.

find an attorney familiar with the differences between NFA Trusts and other estate planning trusts. Typical costs are between $100 and $500. The money you will pay to get a correct NFA Trust drawn up is only a fraction of the total investment you are making in this purchase, and your NFA Trust can be used repeatedly as you purchase more NFA items in the future.

You will need to include a copy of the NFA Trust when submitting all your paperwork. Don’t send the original!

The NFA Trust is the legal entity that technically owns the sounds suppressor / silencer, and you possess the item as a Settlor or Trustee named in the Trust. The BATFE calls these individuals “Responsible Persons” because they are responsible for possession of this highly regulated item.