Large Decedent's Estates (ADM)

First, the personal representative should contact the Internal Revenue Service and obtain a tax identification number for the estate, called an Employer Identification Number (EIN). The telephone number is 800-829-4933. Then the personal representative should take that number, a copy of the order appointing personal representative, an original of the letters of administration, the decedent’s death certificate, and the check or cash that needs to be deposited to the bank of his or her choosing.

Additional or updated Letters can be purchased for $1.00 each at the Probate Division, 515 5th Street, NW, Room 314, Washington, DC 20001, or ordered by mail. To order by mail, complete the Copy Request Form and mail with check payable to "Register of Wills."

As Superior Court no longer employs a court appraiser, the petitioner/fiduciary must get their own private appraiser if the Court determines that an appraisal of an estate asset is necessary.

No, the personal representative holds the estate assets and makes the distributions to the persons entitled to receive them.

The authority granted in a power of attorney ends the minute that the person who signed the power of attorney dies. The person named as attorney-of-fact in the power of attorney must immediately stop using the power of attorney or will be subject to potential personal liability. If the decedent owned assets in his or her sole name, an estate proceeding must be opened to collect and distribute those assets.

A personal representative may be removed from a case by order of a judge. The process of removing a personal representative is begun with the filing of either a complaint for removal in the LIT case type (LIT means Major Litigation) or a petition for removal in the estate case (ADM). It is recommended that any person considering removal of a personal representative seek legal advice from an attorney.

The decedent’s spouse and parents.

The following pleadings must be verified to be filed in the Probate Division:

1. All Petitions - SCR-PD 2(b) and 3
2. Complaints filed in Probate Matters - SCR-PD 107(a), and 208(a)
3. Accounts - DC Code 20-721
4. Inventories - DC Code 20-711
5. Guardian Reports - SCR-PD 328
6. Assignments - SCR-PD 120 and 420
7. Claims - DC Code 20-905(a)
8. Affidavits of Mailing and Non-Mailing in Standard Probate - SCR-PD 403(a)(8)
9. Any Affidavit - SCR-CIV 9
10. Verification and Certificate of Notice - SCR-PD 403(b)(3)

In large estates, the claims period expires six (6) months after the first date of publication of the Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs. However, if the personal representative is aware of the existence of a debt, the personal representative must take action with regard to the debt even if no claim has been filed.

If your name is already on a deed to real estate as a joint owner and the deed has already been filed at the Recorder of Deeds, that real estate passes automatically to you at the death of the co-owner, and no probate proceeding is necessary to pass title to that piece of real estate. If your name is already on a deed but not as a joint owner (instead, as a tenant in common), a probate proceeding will be necessary to transfer the decedent’s share of the property to you.