Washington DC Probate Guide

Washington DC handles all probate matters through the DC Superior Court Probate Division, located at the Moultrie Courthouse. Unlike states with multiple probate courts, DC has a single centralized court for all probate proceedings. The court operates under the DC Code, Title 19 (Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relationships).

DC probate is distinctive in several ways. The District uses the term "Personal Representative" for the person who administers the estate. DC also offers two distinct tracks: unsupervised administration and supervised administration. The choice between these tracks depends on the complexity of the estate, whether there are disputes, and the Personal Representative's preference.

The Personal Representative's Role in DC

The Personal Representative in DC has comprehensive duties:

• Filing the petition for probate with the DC Superior Court
• Posting a bond (unless the will waives this requirement)
• Publishing notice to creditors in a DC newspaper
• Creating and filing a complete inventory of estate assets within 3 months of appointment
• Paying valid creditor claims within the statutory period
• Filing federal and DC estate tax returns
• Distributing remaining assets to beneficiaries per the will or DC law
• Filing a final account and petition for discharge with the court

DC Probate Timeline

A typical DC probate takes 6 to 14 months in unsupervised administration. The creditor claims period in DC is 6 months from the date notice is published. Supervised administration can take 12 to 24 months or longer, depending on the complexity and level of court involvement required.

DC Estate Tax

Washington DC imposes its own estate tax, separate from federal estate tax. DC's estate tax exemption currently mirrors the federal exemption, but DC does not have portability between spouses. The DC estate tax return must be filed separately, and the estate may owe both federal and DC estate taxes depending on the total estate value.