Posted: 10/23/2007 7:30:07 PM EDT
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I spoke with a local class 3 dealer and he told me that I can get a CLEO sign-off here in Austin for Class III items but I'm also still tempted to go the Living Trust route. I don't want to spend the $60 on the Quicken WillMaker software only to end up getting a CLEO sign-off. Basically, I need some help. Can Anyone: 1) Tell me if they have been successful with a CLEO signoff here in Travis County? 2) Help me setup the Living Trust if I go that route? Thanks in advance, Dan |
The trust route is not a loophole. It stated plainly on the forms that trusts are allowed along with corporations. |
Yes I have been getting signature from the Travis County Sheriff's office for years, both Sheriff Hamilton and Sheriff Frasier. The sheriff's office is very accomidating to CLEO signatures. You will never speak with the Sheriff directly but will deal with one of his deputy/assistants that handles NFA requests. You will need to go to the Thurman Blackwell Court building downtown off 11th Street. You will need to drop off your NFA paperwork (it must be complete, SN#, full name, and they now require that the picture be attached also). You used to also have to fill out a local "NFA/machinegun" registration form. It was a one page/one time deal that you put down your name, birthdate, Drivers License #, etc. so that they can run a local background check on you. Not sure if they still require this as I filled one out a couple years back under Sheriff Frasier but it wasn't until CLEO sig # 5 or 6 that they came up with the form. Bring your forms in one of the large manilla envelopes, along with a stamped self addressed stamped envelope and in somewhere between 1 week and 3+ months they will send them back to you. IM me if you want more details.
Never done that. Always done a CLEO sig or LLC route when a good deal had time limitations on it. If you are in Travis it is worth the wait for the CLEO sig in my personal opinion. I am not a lawyer and this advice is free so take it for what it is worth. A. You will eventually be pulled over or confronted by an uneducated LEO who will want to either confiscate your NFA or put you in jail or both. Seeing their direct bosses sig or a peer bosses signature on the form does lend some weight than a big empty blank space on the back where the CLEO sig and picture should be. Right or wrong the Travis County Sheriff's office does also maintain a database of all NFA owners who have CLEO signature. I keep my contact at the Sheriff's department business card with my NFA paperwork, She would be one of my first options to call in a tense situation. "Ok, call deputy xyz at the Travis County Sheriffs office, they will be able to confirm they issued the machinegun permit" B. I beleive that trusts are on shaky legal ground and the "loophole" whether you want to call it that or not will be shut down one day and you may be contacted by the NFA branch. Once somebody uses a trust route to abuse the system, like that rapper who got busted with some MGs recently could have done. When that happens it will be the end of trusts. Similar to what what happened with the Law/Love letters now required for Post Samples after dealers got caught "collecting" posties. C. It certainly can't hurt and it doesn't cost anything but a bit of extra time. Just my 2 cents. James Austin, Texas |
FYI, Sheriff's office moved to Airport Blvd, right next to Taxassessors office.
I said that it was my opinion the trust loophole... I SHOULD have said it's my opinion that the trust IS a loophole that will be abused and closed. I like having my picture and Sheriff's signature on my F4. It's peace of mind for very little inconvenience in Travis Co. FWIW, they signed off on 2 suppressors and 1 smg the first time I ever went in w/o batting an eye. I do have a CHL so they liked that. |
| IMHO, although trusts are currently legal to transfer and own NFA items, again IMHO, due to the current proliferation of trusts and various other reasons, I believe ATF Legal Branch will one day find a way to clamp down on this practice in one of several possible ways. |
It has been about 6 months since my last F4 but the support offices and criminal justice center (were you got your fingerprints done) still seem to be on 11th Street in the Thurman Blackwell building per the TCSO website. www.tcsheriff.org/cjc.htm www.tcsheriff.org/support.htm Have you had a transfer recently and gone met with the deputy in charge of NFA tranfer in the new building or is she still at the downtown location? Thanks James Austin, Texas |
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I did mine in June and they were at the new office on Airport. 5555 Airport Blvd http://www.co.travis.tx.us/sheriff/default.asp My signatures were postponed by a week based on Sheriff's secretary's recommendation that I wait until after the move so she wouldn't lose them in the paperwork shuffle. I'm 100% positive this is where they are. Also, the DPS electronic fingerprint office is just up airport around the corner. Scan once, print 6 times, took less than 20 minutes. |
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