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The End of Life Plannerby Valoren

General information · not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

Free · general informationDistrict of Columbia

Probate in the District of Columbia

What the District of Columbia’s own law and courts say about probate, from how an estate comes before the court to when creditors must claim. Nothing on this page decides whether a particular estate needs probate. That question belongs to the court, or to an attorney in the District of Columbia.

  • Every fact dated, in the official words
  • Each state’s own law

Every quotation checked October 24, 2026

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Every quotation on this page is the official body’s own words, as they stood on the day we read them. The date is beside each one.

The Register of Wills, and which court’s division it sits in

The Office of the Register of Wills shall continue as an office in the Probate Division of the Superior Court.

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Code §11-2101

What the Register of Wills does: taking probate of wills, and the bonds of executors and administrators

take the probate of wills and accept the bonds of executors, administrators, collectors, and guardians, subject to approval of the court; and

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Code §11-2104(a)(3)

The three kinds of probate proceeding, by name

Probate may occur either:

As an abbreviated probate proceeding as provided in subchapter II of this chapter;

As a formal probate proceeding as provided in subchapter III of this chapter;

As a small estates proceeding as provided in subchapter VI of this chapter.

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Code §20-301

What a will needs before it can pass property or name a personal representative

A will is ineffective to transfer property or to nominate a personal representative unless it is admitted to probate or recorded as provided in section 20-341 (b).

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Code §20-302

The filing fees, and whether a lawyer is needed, in the Probate Division’s own words

There are filing fees for estate cases. The amount depends on the size of the estate and type of case.

You do not need a lawyer to file an estate case, but it can be helpful—especially for large estates or if there is a dispute.

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Superior Court, Probate Division

Publishing the notice of appointment, and how soon

Within 20 days after appointment, the personal representative shall, unless notice has already been given under this subsection, publish a notice of the appointment in a legal periodical or newspaper of general circulation in the District or any other publication as the Court may provide by Rule once a week for 2 successive weeks.

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Code §20-704(a)

When a creditor’s claim must be presented, counted from the notice

unless presented within 6 months after the date of the first publication of notice of the appointment of a personal representative;

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Code §20-903(a)

How long there is to contest a will, and from when

any person may file a verified complaint to contest the validity of a will within 6 months following notice by publication of the appointment or reappointment of a personal representative under section 20-704

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Code §20-305

What the person holding the will must do, how soon, and the fine for neglecting it

Whoever, having possession of a testamentary instrument, willfully neglects, for the period of 90 days after the death of the testator becomes known to him, to deliver it to the Probate Court, or to the Register of Wills, or to an executor named in the instrument, shall be fined not more than $500.

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Code §18-111

Depositing an original will with the Register of Wills for safekeeping, and when that begins

Beginning January 1, 2028, an original will may be deposited by a domiciliary testator, the testator's agent, or the testator's attorney, with the Register of Wills for safekeeping.

Upon payment of the required fee, the Register of Wills shall give a receipt.

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Code §18-1002 (D.C. Law 26-41)

The same page for other states

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FAQ

Common questions

The Office of the Register of Wills shall continue as an office in the Probate Division of the Superior Court.

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Code §11-2101

take the probate of wills and accept the bonds of executors, administrators, collectors, and guardians, subject to approval of the court; and

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Code §11-2104(a)(3)

There are filing fees for estate cases. The amount depends on the size of the estate and type of case.

You do not need a lawyer to file an estate case, but it can be helpful—especially for large estates or if there is a dispute.

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Superior Court, Probate Division

A will is ineffective to transfer property or to nominate a personal representative unless it is admitted to probate or recorded as provided in section 20-341 (b).

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Code §20-302

Probate may occur either:

As an abbreviated probate proceeding as provided in subchapter II of this chapter;

As a formal probate proceeding as provided in subchapter III of this chapter;

As a small estates proceeding as provided in subchapter VI of this chapter.

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Code §20-301

unless presented within 6 months after the date of the first publication of notice of the appointment of a personal representative;

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Code §20-903(a)

Within 20 days after appointment, the personal representative shall, unless notice has already been given under this subsection, publish a notice of the appointment in a legal periodical or newspaper of general circulation in the District or any other publication as the Court may provide by Rule once a week for 2 successive weeks.

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Code §20-704(a)

any person may file a verified complaint to contest the validity of a will within 6 months following notice by publication of the appointment or reappointment of a personal representative under section 20-704

District of Columbia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · D.C. Code §20-305

For anyone who would rather their family found it all in one place than went looking.

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