New Hampshire Firearm Bill of Sale
New Hampshire does not require a bill of sale for an eligible in-state private firearm sale — an occasional transfer between eligible New Hampshire residents generally needs no FFL or background check. RSA 159:8 does require the seller to personally know the buyer or obtain clear evidence of identity before delivering a firearm, and selling to a known felon is a class B felony.
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 New Hampshire-specific template mirrors the fields New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire's private-sale rules.
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 New Hampshire template, print it, and bring it to the meeting.
Download New Hampshire PDF TemplateNew Hampshire private-sale law snapshot
Background check: An occasional same-state private transfer between eligible New Hampshire residents generally needs no background check, but the seller must know the buyer or obtain clear identity evidence and must not transfer to a felon.
Bill of Sale requirement: New Hampshire generally requires no bill of sale for an occasional lawful private transfer, although documenting identity and the transaction is useful.
An occasional transfer between eligible New Hampshire residents generally needs no FFL or background check.
A private seller must not transfer to a felon, must personally know the buyer or obtain clear identity evidence, and must comply with the pistol-transfer-to-minor rules. Interstate transfers ordinarily pass through an FFL.
Selling, bartering, hiring, lending, or giving a pistol or revolver to a minor is a misdemeanor, with exceptions for a parent, grandparent, guardian, or estate representative transferring to their own child, ward, or heir, and for supervised firearms training, licensed-hunter accompaniment, and lawful shooting events. Selling or otherwise delivering a firearm to a person known to be a felon is a class B felony, and RSA 159:8 bars delivery unless the seller personally knows the buyer or obtains satisfactory identity evidence first.
When to use a New Hampshire Bill of Sale
- Confirm both parties are New Hampshire 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.
- Personally know the buyer, or obtain clear evidence of their identity, before delivering the firearm — RSA 159:8 requires this and does not treat familiarity or identification alone as an excuse to sell to a prohibited person.
- Confirm the buyer is not someone known to be a felon — selling or otherwise delivering a firearm to a known felon is a class B felony under New Hampshire law.
- If the buyer may be under 18, confirm the transfer fits New Hampshire's family, supervised-training, licensed-hunter, or shooting-event exceptions before handing over a pistol or revolver.
- Record the firearm's make, model, caliber or gauge, and serial number, along with the price and transfer date, then have both parties sign and keep a copy.
New Hampshire Firearm Bill of Sale FAQ
- Do I need a bill of sale to sell a gun in New Hampshire?
- No. New Hampshire generally requires no bill of sale for an occasional lawful private transfer, although documenting identity and the transaction is useful. An occasional transfer between eligible New Hampshire residents generally needs no FFL or background check either.
- Can I sell a gun to anyone in New Hampshire without a background check?
- For an occasional, eligible in-state private sale between New Hampshire residents, generally yes — New Hampshire does not require a formal background check for that specific case. But RSA 159:8 requires you to personally know the buyer or obtain clear identity evidence first, and selling to a known felon is a separate class B felony.
- Does a New Hampshire bill of sale need to be notarized?
- No — this template does not require a notary, and the reviewed New Hampshire 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?
- Interstate transfers ordinarily pass through an FFL. Confirm New Hampshire residency, identity, age, and eligibility before relying on the in-state private-sale rules described here.
- Is this New Hampshire bill of sale a substitute for an FFL transfer?
- No. Personal familiarity or identification does not excuse a transfer to a prohibited person, and this Bill of Sale does not replace an FFL transfer, background check, or any other legal requirement that applies to a specific sale — for example, an interstate transfer, or a sale involving an NFA-regulated firearm.