Frequently Asked Questions

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The forms needed are: (1) Account; (2) Schedules A – L; (3) Schedule K-1 for interim accounts, (4) Financial Account Information (Form 27) (for confidential information under Superior Court, Probate Division Rule 5.1); (5) copies of bank statements; and (6) copies of canceled checks, receipts, or vouchers in support of all transactions. Sometimes, the original bank statements or canceled checks may be requested during the account audit. The Account, Schedules A - L, and Financial Account Information (Form 27) can be found on the Probate Division website.

The forms needed are: (1) Account; (2) Schedules A – L; (3) Schedule K-1 for interim accounts, (4) Financial Account Information (Form 27) (for confidential information under Superior Court, Probate Division Rule 5.1); (5) copies of bank statements; and (6) copies of canceled checks, receipts, or vouchers in support of all transactions. Sometimes, the original bank statements or canceled checks may be requested during the account audit. The Account, Schedules A - L, and Financial Account Information (Form 27) can be found on the Probate Division website.

The forms needed are: (1) Account; (2) Schedules A – L; (3) Schedule K-1 for interim accounts, (4) Financial Account Information (Form 27) (for confidential information under Superior Court, Probate Division Rule 5.1); (5) copies of bank statements; and (6) copies of canceled checks, receipts, or vouchers in support of all transactions. Sometimes, the original bank statements or canceled checks may be requested during the account audit. The Account, Schedules A - L, and Financial Account Information (Form 27) can be found on the Probate Division website.

The forms needed are: (1) Account; (2) Schedules A – L; (3) Schedule K-1 for interim accounts, (4) Financial Account Information (Form 27) (for confidential information under Superior Court, Probate Division Rule 5.1); (5) copies of bank statements; and (6) copies of canceled checks, receipts, or vouchers in support of all transactions. Sometimes, the original bank statements or canceled checks may be requested during the account audit. The Account, Schedules A - L, and Financial Account Information (Form 27) can be found on the Probate Division website.

Audits are conducted on a case-by-case basis. Inquiries may differ depending upon the circumstances of the case. If matters are not resolved with the auditor to your satisfaction, please write either P. Allen Butler, III, Auditing Branch Manager, or Anne Meister, Esq., Register of Wills, and request an administrative review. Please note that a request for administrative review will not stay the response period.

No. A petition for compensation is not required to be filed in estates where persons died on or after July 1, 1995. Instead, a person who has a problem with the compensation paid or to be paid must file an objection with the Court and ask the Court to review the reasonableness of compensation claimed or paid.

There is no set rate of compensation for a personal representative in the District of Columbia. For estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 1995, the standard is "reasonable" compensation. For estates of decedent’s dying before July 1, 1995, Superior Court, Probate Division Rule 125 set a guideline of 4.5 to 8% of the assets and income of the estate for the combined fee of the personal representative and the attorney for the personal representative.

"Probating an estate" is the process of collecting the assets of a decedent, paying any claims or bills of the decedent and the costs of administration, and distributing what is left to the heirs if the decedent had no will and to persons named in a will to receive assets if the decedent had a will. To begin this process, a petition for probate and supporting documents must be filed at the Probate Division’s Legal Branch, 515 5th Street, NW, 3rd Floor, Room 312, Washington, DC A judge will then review the documents to determine whether an estate should be opened and, if so, appoint a personal representative who will be responsible for probating the estate. If there is a will, the judge will also decide whether it is valid and should be admitted.

A "cc" list is a "copies to" list. Every pleading (i.e., petition or motion) must have an attached order. All orders should end with a "cc" list that includes the names and addresses of the person filing the pleading and of all other parties or interested persons. Envelopes or mailing labels addressed to those persons should be included with the filing. The "cc" list is usually a repetition of the names and addresses in the certificate of service on the pleading plus the name and address of the filer.

A decedent can nominate a personal representative in his or her will, but that person is not officially the personal representative until the Court issues an order appointing that person as personal representative. Once appointed, the personal representative is responsible for settling the decedent’s estate. Until the Court has appointed someone, no one has the authority to deal with the decedent’s affairs.