Pen. Code, § 16990 · Division 2. DEFINITIONS
Pen. Code, § 16990
Text — As published in the Legislative Counsel's database, tables dated October 18, 2026 (pubinfo_2025.zip)
As used in any provision listed in subdivision (a) of Section 16585, the phrase “a person taking title or possession of a firearm by operation of law” includes, but is not limited to, any of the following instances in which an individual receives title to, or possession of, a firearm:
(a) The executor, personal representative, or administrator of an estate, if the estate includes a firearm.
(b) A secured creditor or an agent or employee of a secured creditor when the firearm is possessed as collateral for, or as a result of, a default under a security agreement under the Commercial Code.
(c) A levying officer, as defined in Section 481.140, 511.060, or 680.260 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(d) A receiver performing the functions of a receiver, if the receivership estate includes a firearm.
(e) A trustee in bankruptcy performing the duties of a trustee, if the bankruptcy estate includes a firearm.
(f) An assignee for the benefit of creditors performing the functions of an assignee, if the assignment includes a firearm.
(g) A transmutation of property consisting of a firearm pursuant to Section 850 of the Family Code.
(h) A firearm passing to a surviving spouse pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 13500) of Part 2 of Division 8 of the Probate Code.
(i) A firearm received by the family of a police officer or deputy sheriff from a local agency pursuant to Section 50081 of the Government Code.
(j) The transfer of a firearm by a law enforcement agency to the person who found the firearm where the delivery is to the person as the finder of the firearm pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 2080) of Chapter 4 of Title 6 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code.
(k) The trustee of a trust that includes a firearm and that was part of a will that created the trust.
(l) A firearm passed to a decedent’s successor pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 13000) of Division 8 of the Probate Code.
(m) A person acting pursuant to the person’s power of attorney in accordance with Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4000) of the Probate Code.
(n) A limited or general conservator appointed by a court pursuant to the Probate Code or Welfare and Institutions Code.
(o) A guardian ad litem appointed by a court pursuant to Section 372 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(p) The trustee of a trust that includes a firearm that is under court supervision.
(q) The trustee of a trust that is not referenced in subdivisions (k) or (p).
(r) A special administrator appointed by a court pursuant to Section 8540 of the Probate Code.
(s) A guardian appointed by a court pursuant to Section 1500 of the Probate Code.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 110, Sec. 2. (AB 1292) Effective January 1, 2020.
Source of truth
- Edition
- As published in the Legislative Counsel's database, tables dated October 18, 2026 (pubinfo_2025.zip)
- Official file
- https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=16990.
- Text hash
- sha256 00d976d471d616b501cacc9b6ba1d923c3dcc4562fa8608e41181e4fd7c5e464
- Composed by
- compose_ca.py 2026-10-22: the Legislative Counsel's CAML content files read by a tokenizer (caml_readers.reader_a); an independent xml.etree reading (caml_readers.reader_b) agrees on every section
This section cites
Provisions in this library that the text above cites, as it prints each citation. A range cited as “ss. 61.13-61.16” links its first and last provisions.
Code of Civil Procedure
- Code Civ. Proc., § 372Printed as Section 372 of the Code of Civil Procedure
- Code Civ. Proc., § 481.140Printed as Section 481.140, 511.060, or 680.260 of the Code of Civil Procedure
- Code Civ. Proc., § 511.060Printed as Section 481.140, 511.060, or 680.260 of the Code of Civil Procedure
- Code Civ. Proc., § 680.260Printed as Section 481.140, 511.060, or 680.260 of the Code of Civil Procedure
Probate Code
- Prob. Code, § 1500Printed as Section 1500 of the Probate Code
- Prob. Code, div. 4.5POWERS OF ATTORNEYPrinted as Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4000) of the Probate Code
- Prob. Code, § 8540Printed as Section 8540 of the Probate Code
- Prob. Code, div. 8, pt. 1COLLECTION OR TRANSFER OF SMALL ESTATE WITHOUT ADMINISTRATIONPrinted as Part 1 (commencing with Section 13000) of Division 8 of the Probate Code
- Prob. Code, div. 8, pt. 2, ch. 1General ProvisionsPrinted as Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 13500) of Part 2 of Division 8 of the Probate Code
Cited by 6 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Pen. Code, § 16990. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.