An Alabama firearm bill of sale is a written record of a gun sale, trade or gift. It names the seller and the buyer, describes the firearm by make, model and serial number, and shows the price and how it was paid. The form records the deal and does not replace the legal limits on who may receive a pistol.[1]
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Alabama law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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Alabama law limits who may receive a pistol, and federal law adds an age limit and a background check for sales by licensed dealers. The sections below set out each rule and name the law it comes from.
Since January 1, 2023, Alabama does not require a permit to carry a handgun concealed or in a vehicle (Section 13A-11-74.1, after the repeal of Section 13A-11-73). A concealed carry permit is optional and is still useful for carrying in states that recognize it, and a person barred under Section 13A-11-72 still may not possess a firearm.[3.1]
Alabama recognizes a permit to carry a handgun issued in a different state while the holder is not an Alabama resident (Section 13A-11-85). An Alabama resident applies for a concealed carry permit to the sheriff of his or her county of residence (Section 13A-11-75).[4.1]
| Subject | What the law says |
| Delivery limits | No delivery to a minor (with the exceptions the statute lists), a drug addict, a habitual drunkard, or a person convicted of a crime of violence.[1] |
| Dealer sales, age | A licensed dealer may not sell to a person under 18, or under 21 for a firearm other than a shotgun or rifle.[2.1] |
| Dealer sales, buyer screening | The dealer contacts the national instant criminal background check system before the transfer is complete.[2.2] |
Section 13A-11-76 of the Alabama Code reads:
No person shall deliver a pistol to any person who he or she has reasonable cause to believe is a minor, except under the circumstances provided in Section 13A-11-72, a drug addict, or an habitual drunkard, has been convicted in this state or elsewhere of committing or attempting to commit a crime of violence
In plain words, the statute covers four groups of people:
Know who the buyer is before you complete the bill of sale. This paper records the deal, and the statute above is about the person who receives it.
Section 13A-11-72 goes further than delivery: a person may not own a firearm or have one in his or her possession or control if, for example, the person was convicted of a crime of violence or of domestic violence, is subject to a domestic abuse protection order, or is of unsound mind.[5.1]
Federal law adds its own list. Under 18 U.S.C. 922(g), a person convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, a fugitive from justice, or an unlawful user of a controlled substance may not possess or receive a firearm, and the rule applies in every state, including Alabama.[2.3]
For a licensed dealer, federal law sets the age at which a buyer may be sold to. A dealer may not sell a firearm to a person the dealer knows or has reasonable cause to believe is less than eighteen years of age. For a firearm other than a shotgun or rifle, the age is twenty-one.[2.1]
Federal law also adds a background check. Before the completion of the transfer, the licensee contacts the national instant criminal background check system, unless the buyer is also licensed.[2.2]
Looking for another document? FormsPal has more Alabama bill of sale forms, a general firearms bill of sale form, and a guide to what a bill of sale does. Selling a boat in Alabama instead? Use the Alabama boat bill of sale, or the motor vehicle bill of sale for a car.
An Alabama gun bill of sale gives the seller and the buyer a written record of the deal. It shows who took part, what changed hands, the price and the date. Each side can keep a signed copy in case a question comes up later. In a private sale, this paper is often the main record the two sides have.
Our note on how binding a bill of sale is covers what a signed copy can do.
A complete record shows:
Create your bill of sale online, then save it, print it or download it as a PDF. The form runs five pages and covers the seller, the buyer, the firearm, the price and payment method, and the signatures. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat or any PDF reader, or complete it on screen with our online PDF editor.
The steps below follow the order of the form, from the date at the top of page 1 to the last page. Complete each part in turn, check the details against the gun itself, and read every statement before you sign. The screenshots show how the parts look on the form.
Each side should keep a signed copy of the finished form for its records.
The as-is term on page 4 has a legal effect in Alabama. Under Section 7-2-316 of the Alabama Code, unless the circumstances indicate otherwise, all implied warranties are excluded by expressions such as "as is" or "with all faults", and this does not limit the seller's liability for personal injury in the case of consumer goods.[6.1]
Alabama law does not let anyone deliver a pistol to a person they have reasonable cause to believe is a minor. The same goes for a drug addict, a habitual drunkard, or a person convicted of a crime of violence.[1] A licensed dealer also has federal duties on age and on screening the buyer.[2.1][2.2] However the sale happens, put the deal in writing with a bill of sale.
The statute bars delivery to a minor, a drug addict, a habitual drunkard or a person convicted of a crime of violence.[1] The FormsPal form includes a gift option, so a gift can be put in writing with the make, model and serial number of the item.
A transfer usually goes in this order:
General information, not legal or tax advice.
