*NOTE: This section includes amendments by emergency legislation that will expire on August 27, 2026. To view the text of this section after the expiration of all emergency and temporary legislation, click this link: Permanent Version.*

1. (a) Within 20 days after appointment, the personal representative shall, unless notice has already been given under this subsection, publish a notice of the appointment in a legal periodical or newspaper of general circulation in the District or any other publication as the Court may provide by Rule once a week for 2 successive weeks. This notice shall announce the appointment and address of the personal representative, state whether administration is supervised or unsupervised, and notify creditors of the estate to present their claims. The personal representative shall file with the Register a certification specifying the date and content of the published notice. The notice shall be substantially in the following form:

   To all persons interested in the estate of

   This is to give notice that the undersigned, __________________ whose address is _________ was, on _________ appointed personal representative of the estate of ________ who died on ________ , (with) (without) a will, and that the personal representative will serve in (supervised) (unsupervised) administration.

   All persons having any objection to such appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file an objection with the Register of Wills on or before ________ (6 months from the date of the first publication of notice under this section).

   All persons having claims against the decedent shall present their claims to the undersigned or file their claims with the Register of Wills on or before 6 months from the date of the first publication of this notice.

   Any claim not so filed on or before such date shall be unenforceable thereafter.

   Any person who is related to the decedent and who does not receive notice of this appointment by mail within 25 days shall so inform the Register of Wills including such person’s name, address, and relationship to the decedent.

   Personal representative

   Date of first publication:

   __________

2. (b) Not later than 20 days after appointment, a personal representative (except when notice under this subsection has already been given) shall send, by registered or certified mail to the heirs and legatees of the decedent and to all creditors whose identities are known or whose identities are reasonably ascertainable by reasonably diligent efforts, the text of the first newspaper notice of the appointment of such representative, and the following general information in a form developed by the Court:

   1. (1) the typical duties of a personal representative in estate administration, including a description of the essential steps of estate administration, whether the personal representative is subject to continuing court supervision as provided in section 20-401 et seq., or is an unsupervised personal representative;
   2. (2) how fees for estate administration are determined in this jurisdiction and that the personal representative is to be provided as soon as feasible with an estimate of fees to be claimed against the estate;
   3. (3) the rights of heirs or legatees, the assistance an heir or legatee may provide to the personal representative, and the role of the Register, whether the personal representative is subject to continuing court supervision as provided in section 20-401 et seq., or is an unsupervised personal representative. The personal representative shall certify to the Register that notices under this subsection have been given, whether the personal representative is subject to continuing court supervision as provided in section 20-401 et seq., or is an unsupervised personal representative; and
   4. (4) if the personal representative is not subject to continuing court supervision, the right of any interested person, on petition to the Court duly presented and filed with the Register, to initiate a proceeding involving notice to interested persons and a hearing to impose Court supervision on the estate, or to seek any other court order necessary for protection of rights of the interested person.
3. (b-1) The personal representative shall certify to the Register that notices under subsection (b) of this section have been given.
4. (b-2) Within 90 days after the appointment of the personal representative, the personal representative (whether supervised or unsupervised) shall certify to the Register that the notices required under subsection (b) of this section above have been given.
5. (c) If a will is admitted to probate after notice has been given under subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the personal representative shall give notice of appointment or reappointment as provided in subsections (a) and (b) of this section: except, that ordinary mail may be substituted for registered or certified mail in accordance with section 20-103.

History

June 24, 1980, D.C. Law 3-72, § 101, 27 DCR 2155

Mar. 21, 1995, D.C. Law 10-241, § 3(ff), 42 DCR 63

Apr. 18, 1996, D.C. Law 11-110, § 67, 43 DCR 530

Apr. 9, 1997, D.C. Law 11-255, § 19(d), 44 DCR 1271

Mar. 21, 2025, D.C. Law 25-302, § 4(r)

May 29, 2026, D.C. Act 26-337, § 2(f)

Editor's Notes

Application of Law 10-241: See Application of Law 10-241 and Emergency act amendment notes to § 20-701.01.

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 20-704.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 12-305, § 19-1305.05, § 19-1306.04, § 20-305, § 20-331, § 20-353, and § 20-724.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3(c) of Prearrest Diversion Task Force Recommendations Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-174, Oct. 23, 2025, 0 DCR 0).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3(c) of Prearrest Diversion Task Force Recommendations Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 (D.C. Act 26-255, Jan. 27, 2026, 0 DCR 0).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(f) of Strengthening Probate Administration Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 (D.C. Act 26-337, May 29, 2026, 0 DCR 0).

Temporary Legislation

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 3(c) of Prearrest Diversion Task Force Recommendations Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Law 26-95, Feb. 13, 2026, 72 DCR 12875).