What to Do When Someone Dies in District of Columbia, District of Columbia
Probate in District of Columbia runs through the DC Superior Court - Probate Division: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in District of Columbia, settling their estate runs through the DC Superior Court - Probate Division. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
DC Superior Court - Probate Division
District of Columbia · DC Superior Court
Address
515 Fifth Street NW, Court Building A, Room 314Washington, DC 20001
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneysWalk-ins acceptedSelf-filing allowed
Departments
Large Estates (ADM) · Third Floor, Court Building A
Small Estates (SEB) · Third Floor, Court Building A
Guardianship/Conservatorship (INT/IDD) · Third Floor, Court Building A
DC is a federal district with no counties. All probate matters are handled by the single Probate Division of the DC Superior Court. Associate and senior judges are assigned to Probate & Backup calendars by the Chief Judge and rotate periodically.
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In District of Columbia, probate runs through the DC Superior Court - Probate Division at 515 Fifth Street NW, Court Building A, Room 314, Washington. The court sits in the DC Superior Court.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under District of Columbia intestacy law when there is no will.
Most District of Columbia estates take 12 months to 18 months to move through this process. The 6 monthsD.C. Code § 20-903Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in District of Columbia
What probate costs in District of Columbia, District of Columbia comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the DC Superior Court - Probate Division at 515 Fifth Street NW, Court Building A, Room 314, Washington. The court is part of the DC Superior Court.
Probate matters are handled through Large Estates (ADM), Small Estates (SEB), and Guardianship/Conservatorship (INT/IDD). Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
Local procedures at this court that affect cost: Court costs governed by Probate Rules 125 and 425. Large estate filing fee is $25.00 if decedent owned DC real estate, plus additional fee based on value of personal property. $25 fee for filing Objection (Exception) to Account or Inventory in intervention proceedings; Guardianship Fund hourly rates (effective October 1, 2023): Attorneys/guardians $110/hour, Non-lawyer pilot program guardians $80/hour, Medical doctors (examiners) $120/hour. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
District of Columbia runs a probate self-help center (Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM), which is the single biggest cost-saver for families who can self-file. Staff can walk you through the paperwork and explain procedures, though they cannot give legal advice on your specific case. Call 202-508-1681.
District of Columbia charges $0 - $11,300 (graduated by personal property)Super. Ct. Prob. R. 108(a)(1); D.C. Code § 15-707Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the DC Superior Court - Probate Division (https://efiledcsuperiorcourt.gov/). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in District of Columbia are negotiated, typically 2%D.C. Code § 20-753 (reasonableness review of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.1%D.C. Code § 20-753 (reasonableness review of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
District of Columbia requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%D.C. Code § 20-502Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in District of Columbia typically runs 12 months to 18 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the DC Superior Court - Probate Division
If you're handling probate yourself in District of Columbia, District of Columbia, you can file at the DC Superior Court - Probate Division in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the DC Superior Court.
Filings here are routed through Large Estates (ADM), Small Estates (SEB), and Guardianship/Conservatorship (INT/IDD). Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in District of Columbia, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
•Filings requiring deposits into the Estate Deposit Account
•Confidential Information Form (Form 26)
•Financial Information Form (Form 27)
•Supporting documents (Inventories/Accounts) containing financial information
•Subpoenas for medical records
•Foreign subpoenas
•Fee waivers
•Petitions to re-open administration of estate prior to 2005
•Requests for extension of personal representative appointment in closed cases where bond or waivers must be filed
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the DC Superior Court - Probate Division is realistic. District of Columbia has a self-help center that assists people filing without an attorney.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Wills must be filed within 90 days after death with a Certificate of Filing Will. Wills are filed at the Probate Clerk Office, Room 314, Court Building A. There is no cost to file a will. The Probate Division does not accept wills for safekeeping before death.
Paper filings are submitted at the Duty Auditor station in Room 313, Court Building A. Accounts may also be filed by mail. Duty Auditor phone: 202-879-9447.
A waiver signed by one acting in a fiduciary capacity must be accompanied by a certified copy of a Court appointment (if any) or a certified statement.
Documents must be filed separately in each case unless cases are officially consolidated by court order. Paper documents filed are scanned and returned to filers after docketing; hard copies not retained for e-filed documents.
Records Access
Probate record searches require a Case Information Search Request Form submitted with a $10 check or money order payable to "Register of Wills" at Room 314. Decedent estate dockets are also available free online via Remote Public Access. Open or recently closed cases (under 10 years old) may be inspected in Room 314 during business hours; cases over 10 years old are stored at the Suitland Records Center or DC Archives and require a Case Information - Archive Case Request Form.
Other Requirements
Probate Division handles 14 case types: Large Estates (ADM), Small Estates (SEB), Foreign Decedent Estates (FEP), Will Filings (WIL), Guardianship/Conservatorships (INT/IDD), Foreign Intervention (FOI), Former Law Conservatorships (CON), Guardianship of Minors Estates (GDN), Trusts (TRP), Notice of Revocable Trusts (NRT), Disclaimers (DIS), Major Litigation (LIT), Probate Miscellaneous (PBM), and Wills (WIL).
Mediation services available for probate disputes. Spanish-language video guidance available. Live chat support available for procedural questions.
Getting to the DC Superior Court - Probate Division
Subway
Judiciary Square Metro Station (Red Line)
Parking
Metered street parking and nearby parking garages
Located in Court Building A, enter on Fifth Street NW
Before You Go
Walk-ins accepted
You can file in person without an appointment. The Probate Clerk Office (Room 314) and Probate Self-Help Center (Room 318) accept walk-ins Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM. Online appointment scheduling is available for petition review with the Legal and Small Estates branches via the Probate Division Appointments page.
What to Bring
To file at the DC Superior Court - Probate Division you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in District of Columbia
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Recorder of Deeds.
Deeds and other real property documents for District of Columbia are recorded with the Recorder of Deeds at 1101 4th Street SW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20024. Phone: 202-727-5374. Hours: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (deed recording); 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM (all other services including copies, searches, and UCC filings).
The Recorder of Deeds charges $25 flat, regardless of page count.
District of Columbia accepts electronic recording through CSC/Ingeo, Simplifile, ePN.
District of Columbia uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in District of Columbia — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in District of Columbia are based on reasonable compensation — typically 2%D.C. Code § 20-753 (reasonableness review of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.1%D.C. Code § 20-753 (reasonableness review of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a District of Columbia firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the DC Superior Court - Probate Division, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Long-established Dupont-area firm on Massachusetts Avenue NW (with a New York office) serving DC-metro families and privately held business owners for over 40 years. Trust-and-estate attorneys plan to minimize tax and avoid probate, administer estates and trusts, and handle estate litigation. Also practices business, real estate, and employee-benefits law.
Boutique firm on 19th Street NW in downtown Washington (with an Annapolis, MD office) concentrating in real estate, probate, and estate planning for DC and Maryland clients. Attorney Erica Gloger handles wills, trusts, advance directives, and contested estates, alongside the firm's condominium and real estate work. Offers a free initial consultation.
Solo practice in the Mount Vernon Square Historic District on 9th Street NW, with over 30 years of experience in DC estate matters. Handles probate, deed transfers after a death, guardianship and court intervention for incapacitated adults, and wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Also takes elder-law and real-estate matters that arise alongside an estate.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipand 2 more
Wills, trusts, estates and fiduciary firm on 50th Street NW in upper Northwest Washington, serving DC, Virginia, and Maryland. Handles estate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and litigation over wills and trusts — will contests, undue influence, breach of fiduciary duty. Will also serve as the appointed personal representative, trustee, or guardian ad litem.
Solo downtown DC firm on K Street at the Farragut North Metro station, led by Keisha A. Garner and serving DC plus Prince George's, Montgomery, Charles, Anne Arundel, Howard, and Calvert counties in Maryland. Drafts wills, living wills, healthcare and durable powers of attorney, and revocable and irrevocable trusts, and handles probate. Also practices family law and adoption.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbatePowers Of AttorneyTrustsWills
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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