District of ColumbiaD.C. wills office may send less formal estate cases to court after requiring extra sworn proof
If it requires extra sworn proof in a less formal D.C. estate case, the wills office may ask a court who should manage the estate and whether to accept a will.
What it does
If D.C.'s wills office requires extra sworn proof in a less formal estate case, it may send the case to court. The court can decide who manages the estate and whether to accept a will.
This temporary law says the 2024 D.C. estate law applies to estates of people who died on or after March 21, 2025.
Argument forWhen extra sworn proof is required in a less formal estate case, court review could clarify who manages the estate and whether to accept a will.
Argument againstIf the wills office requires extra sworn proof, people handling a less formal estate case might have to gather and file more paperwork.
More detail
The D.C. Register of Wills may send a case to court to decide who should manage the estate and whether to accept a will. This covers abbreviated probate, a less formal process for handling an estate with or without a will. The Register must require extra sworn proof before it may refer the case. That proof must be filed in the case. The temporary law lasts 225 days from its effective date.
The temporary act says the 2024 D.C. estate law applies to certain estates. It covers estates of people who died on or after March 21, 2025.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Oct 1Law Number L26-0047 Effective from Oct 01, 2025, Expires on May 14, 2026Latest
- Aug 19Transmitted to CongressMinor
- Aug 15Act A26-0134 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 008936
- Aug 12Returned from Mayor
- Aug 11Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0134Became Law
- Jul 31Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Aug 14, 2025To Governor
- Jul 28Final Reading, CCMinor
- Vote recorded Final Reading, CC. Result: pass.Legislature
- Jul 18Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0316 Published in the District of Columbia Register
- Jul 14First ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded First Reading. Result: pass.Legislature
- Jul 14Retained by the Council
- Jul 10B26-0316 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the SecretaryIntroduced
Government & Ethics