What are the laws (in Ca) on registering guns handed down from family members?

[Big B]

I have an old Sears model 25 .22 cal semi-automatic rifle that was given to me by my father in law, and I've been told that I don't need to register it. I was also told at a sporting goods store that to register it I have to bring it in with my father in law (original registered owner), and leave it for twelve days while the background check clears. Is all of this true? Also I'm talking to my grandparents (in laws) about acquiring two old revolvers from them. One is a 38 special, and the other is a small 22. If I get these I want them to be registered legally in my name. The 38 was purchased by great grandpa, who is no longer with us, and still registered in his name. The 22 was a gift from a friend years ago. Neither original registered owners are around or available to be present to transfer ownership. I'm old enough to own a handgun in Ca., but not old enough to claim that they were given to me before handgun laws went into effect. What do I need to do to ensure that these guns can't be taken from me if I take them out for target practice?

 

[eflatminor]

No lawyer here but in my experience...

you can bring into CA a handgun not on the approved list as long as it's from an immediate family memeber (parents, maybe grandparents) and that they physically bring the gun to you here in CA or you go out of state and bring it in. You can fill out a 'Intra-familial Transfer' with the DOJ, form here:
http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/oplaw.pdf
The same site will give you the laws pertaining to an intra-familial transfer. Pretty sure a father-in-law won't work but check it out, I could be wrong.

I transferred several handguns, some on the approved list some not, through inheritences from my parents living out of state.

 

[Librarian]

For relatives all living in California, rules are parent-child (or child-parent), grandparent-grandchild (or reverse) may transfer guns without using an FFL. Long guns, it's "Hi, here's a nice gun." Handguns, it's file the oplaw form, pay $19 for up to 3 handguns per form.

Inlaws, however, don't work in that system - so they need to give the guns to your wife, who can then give them to you under the same rules.

If one of you is NOT in California, the guns must go through a California FFL, who should know about intrafamalial gifts. There will be a transfer fee, and for handguns the receiver needs the Handgun Safety Certificate. Also for handguns, this kind of transfer does not use the Roster, so anything not a CA 'assault weapon' is OK.