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District of Columbia Probate and Estate Forms

Every D.C. estate is filed with one court, the Probate Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, through its Register of Wills (D.C. Code § 20-101(b)). The D.C. Code itself fixes what the main filings must say: the petition for probate (§ 20-304), the small estate petition (§ 20-352), the published notice of appointment, whose wording is printed in § 20-704(a), the small-asset affidavit (§ 20-361(a)), a creditor's claim (§ 20-905(b)), the spouse's renunciation (§ 19-113(a)) and the Certificate of Completion (§ 20-735). Estate tax forms come from the Office of Tax and Revenue and vehicle forms from DC DMV.

District of Columbia Probate Forms by Situation

Open the D.C. Courts website and find the Superior Court's Probate Division for its current petition, notice, inventory and closing forms, or ask at the Probate Self-Help Center, 515 5th Street, NW, Room 318, Washington, DC 20001 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm). For the District's estate tax, use the Office of Tax and Revenue's Inheritance and Estate Tax Forms page; returns D-76, D-76 EZ and D-77 are filed and paid on MyTax.DC.gov.

Find Forms By Your Situation

Recommended procedure:

Abbreviated probate in unsupervised administration, or formal probate when required (D.C. Code §§ 20-311, 20-322)

The D.C. Code sections read for this page do not require an attorney to open an abbreviated probate, and the Probate Self-Help Center offers free help with large estates. A contested, insolvent or supervised estate is different; see the lawyer guide.

Forms you'll need:

Petition for Probate

Probate Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (Register of Wills), or the Probate Self-Help Center, 515 5th Street, NW, Room 318, Washington, DC 20001

Bond, or Written Waiver of Bond

Probate Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (Register of Wills), or the Probate Self-Help Center, 515 5th Street, NW, Room 318, Washington, DC 20001

Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs (published notice)

Probate Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (Register of Wills), or the Probate Self-Help Center, 515 5th Street, NW, Room 318, Washington, DC 20001

Mailed Notice and the Court's General-Information Form

Probate Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (Register of Wills), or the Probate Self-Help Center, 515 5th Street, NW, Room 318, Washington, DC 20001

Inventory

Probate Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (Register of Wills), or the Probate Self-Help Center, 515 5th Street, NW, Room 318, Washington, DC 20001

Certificate of Completion

Probate Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (Register of Wills), or the Probate Self-Help Center, 515 5th Street, NW, Room 318, Washington, DC 20001

Open the official forms page to download these

Official Resources

Open the D.C. Courts website and find the Superior Court's Probate Division for its current petition, notice, inventory and closing forms, or ask at the Probate Self-Help Center, 515 5th Street, NW, Room 318, Washington, DC 20001 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm). For the District's estate tax, use the Office of Tax and Revenue's Inheritance and Estate Tax Forms page; returns D-76, D-76 EZ and D-77 are filed and paid on MyTax.DC.gov.

D.C. Courts: Superior Court Probate Division forms

Official website of the District of Columbia Courts. The Probate Division of the Superior Court hears every D.C. estate (D.C. Code § 20-101(b)); look there for its current court forms and filing fees, which this page does not reproduce.

Probate Self-Help Center (Superior Court)

515 5th Street, NW, Room 318, Washington, DC 20001, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Free help with wills, small and large estates and adult guardianship, plus free seminars (listing in the D.C. Office of the Tenant Advocate's Tenant Resource Guide, rev. 04/20/2026).

Office of Tax and Revenue: DC Inheritance and Estate Tax Forms

The D-76 Estate Tax Instruction Booklet and Worksheets. The estate tax return (D-76, D-76 EZ) and the extension request (D-77) are filed and paid electronically on MyTax.DC.gov.

DC DMV: Vehicle Acquired through Death of Owner

What DC DMV asks for to retitle a vehicle after the owner dies.

D.C. Code § 20-301 (the three probate proceedings)

Official D.C. Code, published by the Council of the District of Columbia. Title 20 governs the administration of decedents' estates.

Important Notes

  • -One court serves the whole District: the Probate Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (D.C. Code § 20-101(b)). There are no county probate courts.
  • -Court form numbers and court filing fees are not listed here because the D.C. Courts website could not be read. The Register of Wills fees are set by the court (§ 15-707(a)); by statute no fee is charged where the estate does not exceed $500, and fees may not exceed $15 where it does not exceed $2,500 (§ 15-707(b)).
  • -Some probate rules rest on D.C. Law 26-164, a temporary act effective until March 27, 2027: the newspaper option for published notices, the dropped will-admitted condition for the small-asset affidavit, and the March 21, 2025 date-of-death rule for the $80,000 small estate figure.
  • -Real property counts in full toward the $80,000 small estate figure and rules out the small-asset affidavit at any value (D.C. Code §§ 20-351, 20-361(a)(1)).
  • -Do not use Maryland's RW forms or Virginia court forms for a D.C. estate.

Sources: District of Columbia Courts (official website) | D.C. Office of the Tenant Advocate, Tenant Resource Guide (Rev. 04/20/2026)

Not sure which District of Columbia forms you need?

Answer a few questions to sort the likely filing path before you pick forms or contact the Superior Court Probate Division.

Take the 2-minute assessment

You've seen what probate involves. Here's how to spare your own family.

A few simple steps (naming beneficiaries, a transfer-on-death deed where your state allows it, or a living trust) can keep your estate out of court.

See how to avoid probate in District of Columbia
How to Use District of Columbia Probate FormsWhy the filing path comes before the form number

The form finder groups records such as Opening the Estate (Abbreviated or Formal Probate), Notice of Appointment and Creditor Claims, Inventory, Accounts and Closing, Small Estates so you can start with the likely procedure rather than one isolated form number.

Use source links such as D.C. Courts: Superior Court Probate Division forms, Probate Self-Help Center (Superior Court), Office of Tax and Revenue: DC Inheritance and Estate Tax Forms to locate official forms and verify which documents belong in the packet.

District of Columbia Form Prep ChecksCounty packet rules and the records to gather before filing

Choose the filing path

Common filing paths in this data include Abbreviated probate in unsupervised administration, or formal probate when required (D.C. Code §§ 20-311, 20-322), Small estates proceeding (D.C. Code §§ 20-351 to 20-354), Small-asset affidavit presented to the holder of each asset; no court filing (D.C. Code § 20-361). Match the estate facts to the correct path before preparing forms.

Verify the county packet

Check the county Superior Court Probate Division or local filing-office instructions for coversheets, copy rules, appointments, fees, and filing methods.

Pull supporting records first

Collect the original will if one exists, certified death certificates, asset values, deed or title records, heir and beneficiary details, and creditor information before filling out the packet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I get District of Columbia probate forms?
Start with D.C. Courts: Superior Court Probate Division forms, Probate Self-Help Center (Superior Court), Office of Tax and Revenue: DC Inheritance and Estate Tax Forms. Then verify local county instructions before you file, because packet rules, copy requirements, fees, and filing methods can vary.
How do I know which District of Columbia probate form I need?
Start with the filing path, not the form number. The right packet depends on will status, asset type and value, creditor issues, heirs or beneficiaries, and whether a simplified procedure fits.
Can I file District of Columbia probate forms without an attorney?
Some paths may allow self-filing, but the answer still depends on the estate, the county office, disputes, real estate, creditors, and tax facts. Verify the county rules and get legal help when rights or strategy are unclear.
What should I gather before filling out District of Columbia probate forms?
Gather the original will if one exists, certified death certificates, asset and debt lists, deed or title records, beneficiary records, and names and addresses for heirs or beneficiaries.
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District of Columbia Official Forms and SourcesOfficial references used for this page

Information current as of October 5, 2026

Settled Estate is not a law firm, and this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Probate laws and procedures in District of Columbia can change. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. Full disclaimer.

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