District of ColumbiaCertain estate notices may appear in newspapers with general circulation in D.C.
People handling D.C. estates may place certain notices in legal periodicals or newspapers with general circulation in D.C., including notices about who will manage an estate.
What it does
People handling estates may publish certain notices in a legal periodical with general circulation in D.C. or a newspaper with the same reach. These include notices about formal probate and estate managers’ appointments.
If the Register of Wills asks for more proof about a will, the Register may send the matter to court. The court can decide who handles the estate and whether to accept the will.
Under this temporary law, the 2024 probate law covers estates when the person died on or after March 21, 2025. Earlier deaths fall outside its stated coverage.
Argument forPeople handling estates could find a suitable place to publish notices by choosing a legal periodical or newspaper with general circulation in D.C.
Argument againstHeirs and creditors might miss a notice if they check only legal publications and the notice runs in a newspaper with general circulation in D.C.
More detail
People handling estates may publish certain notices in a legal periodical or newspaper with general circulation in D.C. This covers notices requesting formal probate, notices from estate managers appointed elsewhere when the deceased owned D.C. property, and appointment notices for interested people, creditors, and unknown heirs. The chosen publication must have general circulation in D.C. This temporary law applies as of May 14, 2026, and expires 225 days after taking effect.
The Register of Wills may ask the court to decide who handles an estate and whether to accept a will. This covers requests to accept a will through abbreviated probate, a court process for handling an estate. The Register must first require additional sworn proof. This temporary provision applies as of May 14, 2026, and expires 225 days after the law takes effect.
The 2024 probate law applies to estates based on when the person died. It covers estates of people who died on or after March 21, 2025. This temporary provision applies as of May 14, 2026, and expires 225 days after the law takes effect.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 28Law L26-0164, Effective from Aug 14, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 012060, Expires on Mar 27, 2027Latest
- Jul 3Act A26-0351 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 009213
- Jul 2Transmitted to CongressMinor
- Jun 29Returned from Mayor
- Jun 25Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0351Became Law
- Jun 16Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Jul 01, 2026To Governor
- Jun 2Final Reading, CCMinor
- Vote recorded Final Reading, CC. Result: pass.Legislature
- May 5First ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded First Reading. Result: pass.Legislature
- May 5Retained by the Council
- Apr 30B26-0675 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the SecretaryIntroduced
Government & Ethics