Mistake to use your name on/for your Trust Name?

[Robb]

I've been doing some reading but I wanted you ask this group your opinions.

If you manufacture a SBR for example do you view having your name engraved ie: "John Smith Trust, Denver CO" as a big negative? My last name is rather unique.
Any items I have will also be used by my kid, on many occasions without me being present. I can see the last name being engraved as potentially helpful in case he's questioned.
But I've also read many wouldn't have their name engraved on a lower no matter what.

The FBI/ATF/IRS will know either way right? The trust is under my name. Is it an issue?

[Circuits]

Only PITA about it is that "Firstname Middlename Lastname Revocable Living Trust" is pretty damn long - which won't matter for anything you purchase for the trust already-manufactured via Form 4 transfers.

If you are planning on making anything via Form 1, I recommend you keep the trust name short and sweet - "Lastname Trust" or "ABC Trust" where ABC are your initials.

A trust can be named anything you want it to be, subject to possible restrictions under state laws, and there are no restrictions in Colorado I'm aware of.

[Dave_L]

I made it as simple as possible. I just used my initials then added "trust" to it. Makes engraving very easy, makes any "explaining" easy as my initials match up also. I never plan on selling any of my NFA stuff so engraving initials/name/etc doesnt bother me. Not a big market for AR lowers with other people's trust name engraved onto it. :)

[SouthPaw]

Short and sweet. Depending on the Form 1, it may limit you on where you can get engraved. I have a friend that has a long full mexican name and used that for his trust. He is now seeing how much it is limiting him on where he can get it engraved on his form 1 stuff.

[Brian]

Great advice here. Using your name or not is really just a personal thing. Some people say it makes it easier when some LEO challenges you about your gun, but I don't know of any cases where people have actually had that problem in Colorado. As far as I know and have seen, ATF could care less.

Short, short, and short. If I were creating a trust from scratch at this point, I'd probably go with something personal or ironic that wasn't my actual name, but was short. Did I mention short?

I do see a lot of trust names for the suppressor transfers I handle, and by far the only guys who regret the name they picked are the guys with the long names, when they go to make their first SBR or homebrewed gun/can. "I have to engrave the whole thing??" ;)
The slightly funny ones are enjoyable.

[Great-Kazoo]

First & last name combo of both shortened to 3-4 letters. What you name the trust doesn't matter to LE, as long as the paperwork matches the item and name of Trustee. When your kids are out shooting they carry paperwork to verify who, what, when , where, why. No need to complicate things, keep it Short & sweet.

[ray1970]

Just use your screen name. [Awesom]

[Robb]

Short and Sweet it is, probably will go with the "Lastname Trust" and be done with it. (Mostly cuz I can't think of anything very clever.)

[brutal]

I used my first name initial, "&", my wife's first name initial, TRUST. Pretty damn short.

[cableguy11]

I used my first name initial, "&", my wife's first name initial, TRUST. Pretty damn short.

I am in the process and using the same method as you!

[davsel]

I used my first name initial, "&", my wife's first name initial, TRUST. Pretty damn short.
I did the same. Now I have to find another gall who's name starts with "D"
Damnit.

[Irving]

Can the trust name be entirely numeric?

[Jamnanc]

55378008

[brutal]

55378008

I see what you did there.

[Erni]

So Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho Trust is too long then?
Damn.

[asmo]

I've been doing some reading but I wanted you ask this group your opinions.

If you manufacture a SBR for example do you view having your name engraved ie: "John Smith Trust, Denver CO" as a big negative? My last name is rather unique.
Any items I have will also be used by my kid, on many occasions without me being present. I can see the last name being engraved as potentially helpful in case he's questioned.
But I've also read many wouldn't have their name engraved on a lower no matter what.

The FBI/ATF/IRS will know either way right? The trust is under my name. Is it an issue?

You do NOT have to use your name in your trust. Lawyers do that to make their lives easier - not yours. You can name it whatever the hell you want. "Bumber Farfig Nusksy Trust" is totally valid. Mine is the combo of some Pink Floyd lyrics.

What you really have to ask is WHY SHOULD YOU use your name in your trust. I honestly can't think of any legit reason to do it. But each persons circumstance is different.

[zimagold]

I specifically used "LastName NFA Trust", I prefer to think of it as a trust setup for planning independent of will. A "LastName Trust" already exists for a family land holding back east. I actually thought it was kinda cool to have the family name engraved onto my sbr.

Edit: No plans on selling lowers, would have them destroyed and removed from registry first. If I thought I would sell down the road, I would have bought a factory sbr to avoid engraving.

[Irving]

I plan on creating any trust with the last name of prominent Democratic, anti-gun politicians. That way, when my Pelosi Toys trust is "leaked" and verified, it will help undermine their bullshit hypocrisy.

[Bentsight]

I plan on creating any trust with the last name of prominent Democratic, anti-gun politicians. That way, when my Pelosi Toys trust is "leaked" and verified, it will help undermine their bullshit hypocrisy.

WINNER!!!

[Irving]

Then when the attention starts to turn sour for them, well of course Bloomberg's money spends just as well at my bank as it does anywhere else.

[Big E3]

Irv that's a great idea. I just got my trust name figured out, "Democrats, Never Trust". This well look great on any firearm.

[Irving]

That's a whole different funny angle.
Think it'd go over well at first when the ATF goes to inspect your proper markings, only to find "You're the only one I trust" stamped over and over on all your stuff?

[The Rat]

Irv that's a great idea. I just got my trust name figured out, "Democrat's, Never Trust". This well look great on any firearm.

Take the apostrophe out since that makes it possessive. Should be "Democrats, Never Trust."

A former team leader once got "I'm just a soul who's intentions are good" tattooed right across his chest, with the "who's" right in between his pecs. Too little space to make any corrections either. He got mad when I pointed out the grammatical error to him.

[brutal]

Take the apostrophe out since that makes it possessive. Should be "Democrats, Never Trust."

A former team leader once got "I'm just a soul who's intentions are good" tattooed right across his chest, with the "who's" right in between his pecs. Too little space to make any corrections either. He got mad when I pointed out the grammatical error to him.

Well, they're also confused by commas in general.

[Robb]

I'm not all that creative and couldn't come up with anything fun and catchy. Thought about naming it after my wife "Sweaty Pig Trust" or something but that would just get me I trouble...
I just did "Lastname Trust."
Thanks for everyone's input. Paperwork is off to NFA Trust Guy.

[SouthPaw]

I'm not all that creative and couldn't come up with anything fun and catchy. Thought about naming it after my wife "Sweaty Pig Trust" or something but that would just get me I trouble...
I just did "Lastname Trust."
Thanks for everyone's input. Paperwork is off to NFA Trust Guy.

Easy to remember. You picked a very good person to trust with it. He had mine back to me in less than 24 hours.

[NFATrustGuy]

Thanks for the business and the kind words, Robb and SouthPaw.

I've been following this discussion and haven't jumped in because nobody's said anything that's outright incorrect or that I disagree with. I encourage folks to use something slightly cryptic because I wouldn't want my last name engraved on a weapon that might be stolen and used in a crime. On the other hand, I acknowledge the pride someone might feel in having their name on a well made high end SBR. I also readily acknowledge that having your surname on the side of the weapon might serve to quickly resolve the question of ownership or authority if confronted by an over zealous government official.

So, bottom line: Either is fine so long as you're making an informed decision.

The one thing I will caution against is getting too cute with your Trust name. I've had several people want to do "In God We Trust" and "Trust This Gun" or things like that. Some of the names have been very clever and even downright amusing, but I don't think it's a great idea to draw too much attention to yourself when dealing with government bureaucrats.

Thanks again to all my ar-15.co clients. It's been a wild year. Business was uncharacteristicly slow July through September, but has picked up again in October. Must be something in the water.

RWW

[Robb]

Any chance you could post a few that you remember that were amusing?
Just cuz it's a gray day, I'm achy and could use a laugh.