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B26-0675 • 2025

Strengthening Probate Administration Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

Strengthening Probate Administration Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Pinto
Last action
2026-07-03
Official status
Under Congressional Review
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill applies as of May 14, 2026 (Section 4), but the official effective date depends on Mayor approval and Congressional review (Section 6).

Strengthening Probate Administration Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

This temporary law updates rules for handling wills and estates in Washington, D.C., by changing how courts appoint representatives, where public notices are published, and when a previous probate act applies.

What This Bill Does

  • Updates the definition of an abbreviated probate proceeding to include determining if a person died without a will (intestacy).
  • Allows the Register of Wills to send cases to court for decisions on appointing personal representatives or admitting wills when more proof is needed.
  • Changes rules so public notices can be published in newspapers, not just legal periodicals.
  • Removes references about using affidavits to transfer property based on a will's admission.
  • Clarifies that the 2024 Probate Amendment Act applies only to people who died on or after March 21, 2025.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Register of Wills in Washington, D.C.
  • Courts handling estate cases
  • Personal representatives appointed for estates
  • Interested persons, creditors, and heirs involved in probate proceedings

Terms To Know

Abbreviated Probate
A court process to prove a will or decide if someone died without one (intestacy) that can happen before formal notice is given.
Personal Representative
The person appointed by the Register of Wills or Court to manage and settle an estate after someone dies.
Register of Wills
A government office in D.C. that handles documents related to wills and estates, which can refer cases to court if more proof is needed.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This law expires 225 days after it takes effect.
  • The exact date the law becomes active depends on approval by the Mayor and a 30-day review period by Congress, though the act applies as of May 14, 2026.

Bill History

  1. 2026-07-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0351 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 009213

  2. 2026-07-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Congress, Projected Law Date is Sep 04, 2026

  3. 2026-06-29 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  4. 2026-06-25 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0351

  5. 2026-06-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Jul 01, 2026

  6. 2026-06-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2026-05-05 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  8. 2026-05-05 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  9. 2026-04-30 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0675 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Strengthening Probate Administration Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-351
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
JUNE 25, 2026
To amend, on a temporarybasis,Chapter3 of Title20of theDistrictof Columbia OfficialCode
toamend thedefinitionofabbreviatedprobate,toauthorizetheRegisterofWillstorefer
proceedingstotheCourttodetermineifoneormore personalrepresentativesshouldbe
appointedand thewillbe admittedtoprobate,and to strikethereferenceto will
admissionintransfersbyaffidavit,andtoallowfornoticeofrequestforformalprobate,
noticefromaforeignpersonalrepresentativeofadecedentwhoownedanyproperty
locatedintheDistrictofColumbia,andnoticeofappointmenttointerestedpersons,
creditors,andunknownheirsinalegalperiodicalornewspaperofgeneralcirculationintheDistrict;and toamend theStrengtheningProbateAmendment Act of 2024 toclarify
thattheactappliestoestatesforwhom thedecedentdiedon or afterMarch 21,2025.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmay be citedas the“StrengtheningProbateAdministrationTemporary Amendment Act of
2026”.
Sec.2.Chapter 3of Title 20ofthe Districtof Columbia OfficialCode isamended as
follows:
(a)Section20-311 isamended toreadas follows:
Ҥ20-311.Natureofproceeding.
“(a)An abbreviatedprobateproceedingisaproceedingforprobateofawillora
determinationofa decedent’sintestacyandfortheappointmentofa personalrepresentative.
This proceedingisinstitutedwhen an interestedpersonfilesa petitionforan abbreviatedprobate
proceedingwith theCourt inaccordancewiththeprovisionsof§ 20-304.This proceedingmay
beconductedwithoutthepriornoticerequiredforformalprobateunder§20-323.
“(b)The finalityof abbreviatedprobateshallbe governed by § 20-331.”.
(b) Section20-312 isamended toreadas follows:
Ҥ20-312.Actiononpetition.
“(a)General.— Upon a requestforabbreviatedprobatefiledinaccordance§ 20-304,the
CourtortheRegisterofWillsshallappointoneormorepersonalrepresentatives,exceptas
providedin§20-322.Theappointmentofa personalrepresentativeshallconstituteanOrderfor
unsupervisedadministration,unlesstheOrderspecificallyprovidesforsupervisedadministration
1

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
providedin§20-322.Theappointmentofa personalrepresentativeshallconstituteanOrderfor
unsupervisedadministration,unlesstheOrderspecificallyprovidesforsupervisedadministration
asprovidedin§20-402.Innoevent,however,shalltheappointmentofa personalrepresentative
bedelayedpendingtheCourt’sdecisionwithregardtowhethertheadministrationwillbe
supervisedorunsupervised.
“(b)Wills.— Inthecaseof a petitionto admita willto abbreviatedprobate,due
executionof thewillshallbe presumed and theCourtor theRegisterof Willsmay admit a will
toprobateeither:
“(1)Ifthewillappearstohavebeendulyexecutedandcontainsarecitalby
attestingwitnessesoffactsconstitutingdueexecution;or“(2)Upontheverifiedstatementofany personwithpersonalknowledgeofthe
circumstancesof execution,whetheror notthepersonwas infactan attestingwitness,reciting
factsshowing due executionofthe will.
“(c)AdditionalProof,— TheRegisterofWillsmayrequireadditionalverifiedproof,
whichshallbefiledintheproceeding.IftheRegisterofWillsrequiresadditionalproof,the
mattermaybereferredtotheCourttodetermineifoneormorepersonalrepresentativesshallbe
appointedandwhetherthewillshouldbeadmittedtoprobate.”.
(c)Section20-323(a)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“legalperiodicalofgeneral
circulationintheDistrict”andinsertingthephrase“legalperiodicalornewspaperofgeneral
circulationintheDistrict”initsplace.
(d)Section20-343(a)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“legalperiodicalofgeneral
circulationintheDistrict”andinsertingthephrase“legalperiodicalornewspaperofgeneral
circulationintheDistrict”in itsplace.
(@)Section20-361(a)(4)isrepealed.
( Section20-704(a)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“legalperiodicalofgeneral
circulationintheDistrict”andinsertingthephrase“legalperiodicalornewspaperofgeneral
circulationintheDistrict”initsplace.
Sec.3.Section7of theStrengtheningProbateAdministrationAmendment Actof 2024,
effectiveMarch 21,2025 (D.C.Law 25-302;72 DCR 780).isamended by addinga new
subsection(d)toreadasfollows:
“(d)Thisactshallapplyto estatesof decedentswho diedon or afterMarch 21,2025.”.
Sec.4.Applicability.ThisactshallapplyasofMay14,2026.
Sec.5,Fiscalimpactstatement.TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpact
statementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).2
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
Sec.6.Effectivedate.
(a)ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreviewasprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(c)(1)).
(b)Thisactshallexpireafter225daysofitshavingtakeneffect.
hairman
Councilofthe Districtof Columbia

Districtof Columbia
APPROVED
JUNE 25, 2026

DocketNo.826-0675
[]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
COUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

[X]ACTION FirstReading
[X]VOTE DATE May 5,2026
[XIVOICEvoTE ‘Approved
asoe[]ROLL CALLVOTE- Result
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DocketNo.B26-0676
[X] ITEM ON CONSENT CALENDAR
[LX]ACTION FinalReading,CC
[X]VOICE VOTE Approved
soso[]ROLL CALLVOTE ~Result
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