Do I need a bill of sale to sell a gun in Montana?

No. Montana generally requires no bill of sale for an occasional lawful private transfer, although a record can be useful. No Montana law generally requires a background check, state form, waiting period, or dealer for that same transfer either.

Can I sell a gun to anyone in Montana without a background check?

For an occasional, eligible in-state private sale between Montana residents, generally yes — Montana adds no state background-check requirement for that specific case. You still may not transfer while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the recipient falls within a federal prohibited category.

Does a Montana bill of sale need to be notarized?

No — this template does not require a notary, and the reviewed Montana sources do not identify a notarization requirement for a private firearm sale. If a specific transaction calls for one, wait to sign until the notary is present.

Is this Montana bill of sale a substitute for an FFL transfer?

No. A voluntary bill of sale does not legalize an otherwise prohibited transfer — it does not replace an FFL transfer, background check, or any other legal requirement that applies to a specific sale.

Do I need a bill of sale to sell a gun in Montana?

No. Montana generally requires no bill of sale for an occasional lawful private transfer, although a record can be useful. No Montana law generally requires a background check, state form, waiting period, or dealer for that same transfer either.

Can I sell a gun to anyone in Montana without a background check?

For an occasional, eligible in-state private sale between Montana residents, generally yes — Montana adds no state background-check requirement for that specific case. You still may not transfer while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the recipient falls within a federal prohibited category.

Does a Montana bill of sale need to be notarized?

No — this template does not require a notary, and the reviewed Montana sources do not identify a notarization requirement for a private firearm sale. If a specific transaction calls for one, wait to sign until the notary is present.

Is this Montana bill of sale a substitute for an FFL transfer?

No. A voluntary bill of sale does not legalize an otherwise prohibited transfer — it does not replace an FFL transfer, background check, or any other legal requirement that applies to a specific sale.

Montana Firearm Bill of Sale

Montana does not require a bill of sale for an eligible in-state private firearm sale — no Montana law generally requires a background check, state form, waiting period, or dealer for an occasional transfer between two Montana residents. Federal law still bars a transfer when the seller knows or has reasonable cause to believe the recipient falls within a prohibited category.

A Bill of Sale still earns its place at the meetup. It's the buyer's and seller's own record of what was sold, to whom, and when — useful if a firearm is ever reported lost or stolen, if a question comes up about who owned it on a given date, or simply so both sides have something in writing beyond a handshake.

This Montana-specific template mirrors the fields Montana gun owners actually need: full party details, the firearm's make, model, caliber, and serial number, the sale terms, and an eligibility acknowledgment written around Montana's private-sale rules.

Create Bill of Sale Online

No printing required. Both parties can complete and sign the Bill of Sale from their phones when you meet, then receive signed PDF copies by email.

Prefer paper instead? Download the blank Montana template, print it, and bring it to the meeting.

Download Montana PDF Template

Montana private-sale law snapshot

Background check: An occasional same-state private transfer between eligible Montana residents generally needs no background check.

Bill of Sale requirement: Montana generally requires no bill of sale for an occasional lawful private transfer, although a record can be useful.

An occasional transfer between eligible Montana residents generally needs no FFL or background check.

No Montana law generally requires a background check, state form, waiting period, or dealer for an occasional transfer between two Montana residents. That does not excuse the transferor from federal law: a person may not transfer a firearm while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the recipient falls within a prohibited category.

Federal prohibited-recipient rules include felony convictions, fugitives, unlawful controlled-substance use, specified mental-health adjudications or commitments, certain immigration statuses, dishonorable discharge, qualifying protection orders, and misdemeanor domestic-violence convictions. A person under indictment for a qualifying crime may not receive a firearm, even though that restriction is framed differently from the possession ban.

A transfer to a resident of another state ordinarily must go through an FFL in the recipient's state; an unlicensed person may not simply deliver the firearm across state lines. Bequests, intestate succession, and temporary loans or rentals for lawful sporting use have limited federal exceptions. A person who repeatedly buys and sells firearms for profit may also need a federal dealer license.

Read the full Montana Gun Laws guide →

When to use a Montana Bill of Sale

Confirm both parties are Montana residents — an in-state private sale is treated differently under federal law than a sale to an out-of-state resident, which generally has to go through an FFL.
Confirm the buyer does not fall within a federal prohibited category — felony convictions, fugitive status, unlawful controlled-substance use, specified mental-health adjudications, certain immigration statuses, dishonorable discharge, qualifying protection orders, or misdemeanor domestic-violence convictions.
Do not transfer to a person under indictment for a qualifying crime.
Record the firearm's make, model, caliber or gauge, and serial number exactly as they appear on the firearm.
Agree on and record the price or other consideration and the transfer date, then have both parties sign and keep a copy.

Montana Firearm Bill of Sale FAQ

Do I need a bill of sale to sell a gun in Montana?: No. Montana generally requires no bill of sale for an occasional lawful private transfer, although a record can be useful. No Montana law generally requires a background check, state form, waiting period, or dealer for that same transfer either.
Can I sell a gun to anyone in Montana without a background check?: For an occasional, eligible in-state private sale between Montana residents, generally yes — Montana adds no state background-check requirement for that specific case. You still may not transfer while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the recipient falls within a federal prohibited category.
Does a Montana bill of sale need to be notarized?: No — this template does not require a notary, and the reviewed Montana sources do not identify a notarization requirement for a private firearm sale. If a specific transaction calls for one, wait to sign until the notary is present.
What if the buyer is from out of state?: A transfer to a resident of another state ordinarily must go through an FFL in the recipient's state; an unlicensed person may not simply deliver the firearm across state lines. Bequests, intestate succession, and temporary loans or rentals for lawful sporting use have limited federal exceptions.
Is this Montana bill of sale a substitute for an FFL transfer?: No. A voluntary bill of sale does not legalize an otherwise prohibited transfer — it does not replace an FFL transfer, background check, or any other legal requirement that applies to a specific sale.