For anyone planning an estate in District of Columbia or settling one: what a will or trust costs, whether an estate needs probate, what executors and trustees are paid, and the taxes on an inheritance, each answered under District of Columbia law.
36 tools for District of Columbia
Probate in District of Columbia takes 6 months to 12 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of 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; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
District of Columbia authorizes transfer on death deedsD.C. Code 19-604.01 to 19-604.19Verified Jul 15, 2026: a recorded, revocable deed that passes real property at death outside probate.
District of Columbia allows a transfer-on-death beneficiary designation on a vehicle title18 DCMR § 402.2(b)Verified Aug 25, 2026View source, filed through the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) using Form DCDMV-ADD-BEN-001.
In District of Columbia, informal probate is not availableD.C. Code § 20-312(a)-(b) (permanent text: the Court appoints the PR and admits the will; Register of Wills is the Clerk of the Probate Division, not an appointing officer)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
In District of Columbia, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Probate Division appoints the personal representative and the Register of Wills issues Letters of Administration; every appointment goes through the courtD.C. Code § 20-312(a)-(b) (permanent text: the Court appoints the PR and admits the will; Register of Wills is the Clerk of the Probate Division, not an appointing officer)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
In District of Columbia, creditors have 6 monthsD.C. Code § 20-903Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
When an estate owes more than it holds, District of Columbia pays the claims in 9D.C. Code § 20-906Verified Sep 23, 2026View source classes in statutory order, beginning with court costs, publication costs, bond premiums.
Compare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.
Compare trust-account requirements bank by bank: how a revocable trust account is opened or retitled, and what proves the trust.
See which federal withdrawal rules apply to an inherited IRA, Roth IRA, or employer plan, the deadline year, and the missed-withdrawal tax.
District of Columbia requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040D.C. Code § 47-1806.03Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Estimate the fair market value of household items for probate and see how it affects fees.
In District of Columbia, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of 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; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
Settling an estate in District of Columbia: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysD.C. Code §§ 20-711 to 20-713.01Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 6 monthsD.C. Code §§ 20-704, 20-903, 20-905, 20-906, 20-908Verified Sep 15, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 12 months.
Settling a trust in District of Columbia happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeD.C. Code § 19-1301.01 et seq. (D.C. Law 15-104, eff. Mar. 10, 2004)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysD.C. Code §§ 19-1308.13, 19-1310.05Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
After a death in District of Columbia, the estate either qualifies for the simplified procedure for estates under $40,000D.C. Code § 20-351Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or goes through probate, where creditors have 6 monthsD.C. Code § 20-903Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to file claims after notice.