This status is frustratingly common. Many people want to know two things right away:
Here’s a straightforward explanation.
Under California law, the Department of Justice can delay a firearm transaction for up to 30 days when they cannot immediately confirm your eligibility to possess firearms.
If the 30-day period expires and the DOJ still cannot make a final determination, the transaction is marked “Undetermined.” At that point, whether the firearm is released is left to the dealer’s discretion. Some dealers will proceed with the transfer. Many will not.
You will usually receive a letter from the DOJ stating that they were unable to determine your eligibility. The letter typically instructs you to obtain a copy of your record and correct any problems.
“Undetermined” does not automatically mean you are legally prohibited. The issue occurs because specific requirements are needed to purchase firearms, and the DOJ is failing to identify those elements within your criminal history records. It usually means the DOJ’s records are incomplete or unclear. Common causes include:
The DOJ generally will not explain the specific issue over the phone. They expect you to pull your own record and work with the courts to fix it.
Here’s the part many people don’t realize until it happens again:
If the underlying issue in your record is not corrected, “Undetermined” status will likely continue to appear on future firearm purchases.
This is not usually a one-time event. The same incomplete or unclear record can trigger the same result every time you submit a DROS. Until the root cause is addressed, you may keep running into the same roadblock.
This process works for some people with relatively simple issues. It can become complicated and time-consuming when there are multiple old cases, out-of-state records, or more complex legal questions involved.
We focus on the legal and record issues that are actually causing the problem. When someone has repeated Undetermined results (or wants to prevent them in the future), the most effective step is usually to identify and correct the underlying issue in their criminal or eligibility record.
An attorney experienced in this area can:
Fixing the record doesn’t just help with one purchase — it reduces the chance of running into the same barrier again.
If you’re dealing with repeated Undetermined statuses, or you’ve already tried correcting your record without success, we can review your situation and explain what’s likely causing the issue and what options exist for resolving it.
Our work in this area centers on record issue identification, correction, and eligibility issues that impact firearm rights. If that’s what you’re facing, we may be able to help you move forward more effectively than trying to handle it on your own.
Call us at (866) 545-GUNS if you’d like to discuss your specific situation. We can help you understand what’s happening with your record and what steps are realistically available to address it.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
Here are some official resources that may be useful as you begin the process:
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