The law in the District of Columbia requires that the will be filed even if there is no estate. Whether an estate needs to be opened or is solvent is a separate issue.
No. A will may be filed only after the death of the person who signed the will.
No. The original will must be filed with the Probate Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
No. If the person died without a will, you may still file a petition for probate to open an estate and indicate on the petition that the person died intestate (which means "without a will"). If the person died with a will, the will must be filed either before or with the documents needed to open an estate.
Yes. The law requires that a will be filed within 90 days after the death of the testator (i.e., the person who executed or signed the will).
