Intervention Proceedings (INT/IDD)

Fees - Can payment for travel time and mileage to and from Court be claimed?

Travel time and mileage to and from Court is not compensated in accordance with the practice in CCAN and CJA cases.

See In re Brenda J. Wilson and In re Irene Mason, 139 WLR 2753 (DC Superior Court, December 27, 2011); In re Alice Bush, 2008 INT 286, 2-3-12 order; In re Fred T. Darson, 2011 INT 328, 1-12-12 order; In re Robert Washington, 2008 INT 79, 1-12-12 order; In re Ruby McDougald, 2008 INT 63, 1-12-12 order

Fees - Can payment for travel time be claimed?

Yes, the Court may, in its discretion, approve compensation for ordinary travel time within the Washington, DC, Metropolitan area if the claim is reasonable. Travel time must be detailed separately in the petition for compensation and cannot be included in the service rendered at the destination. The date, time, distance traveled, location, and the purpose of the travel must be stated. Travel time must be in tenths of an hour. Travel time from an office outside the Washington, DC, Metropolitan area may not be compensable.

Accounting Questions - Can I distribute any assets or pay any bills pending court approval of the final account?

Prior to approval of a final account, a conservator may only disburse or expend pursuant to a court order authorizing expenditures or disbursements. Such an order is obtained by filing a petition with the Court for such authority pursuant to Superior Court, Probate Division Rule 334. Otherwise, a conservator should wait until approval of the final account to make final distribution of the deceased ward’s assets.

Accounting Questions - If a summary hearing for failure to satisfy audit requirements has been set and the requirements are satisfied before the scheduled summary hearing date, will the hearing be vacated (cancelled) so

No. A summary hearing can only be vacated by the court (1) at the hearing or (2) by an order in response to a motion to vacate summary hearing filed by the fiduciary. The motion should be filed at least 13 days prior to the date of the hearing, and the Pro Se Motion to Vacate Summary Hearing form may be used. If the motion is filed less than 13 days from the date of the hearing, it should be by consent of all parties. The motion should state the reasons for the delay.

Accounting Questions - Is Court approval (i.e., a Court order) required before expenditures are made?

Unless the order appointing the conservator in an INT or IDD case restricts spending in some way, Court approval is not required before expenditures are made unless the expenditure is a fee to the guardian, conservator, or counsel. All expenditures are, however, subject to proper accounting. Receipts, bills, cancelled checks, and bank statements must be filed with the annual account in support of all expenditures. In CON cases (those filed prior to September 30, 1989), Court approval is required before expenditures can be made.