B 26-0675 — Strengthening Probate Administration Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

ENGROSSEDENROLLED ORIGINAL ABILLANACT 3___________ 26-675 5 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 8 ___________ To amend, on a temporary basis, Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the District of Columbia Official Code to amend the definition of abbreviated probate, to authorize the Register of Wills to refer proceedings to the Court to determine if one or more personal representatives should be appointed and the will be admitted to probate, and to strike the reference to will admission in transfers by affidavit;affidavit, and to allow for notice of request for formal probate, notice from a foreign personal representative of a decedent who owned any property located in the District of Columbia, and notice of appointment to interested persons, creditors, and unknown heirs in a legal periodical or newspaper of general circulation in the District;

and to amend the Strengthening Probate Amendment Act of 2024 to clarify that the act applies to estates for whom the decedent died on or after March 21, 2025;2025.

and to allow for notice of request for formal probate, notice from a foreign personal representative of a decedent who owned any property located in the District of Columbia, and notice of appointment to interested persons, creditors, and unknown heirs in a legal periodical or newspaper of general circulation in the District.

This proceeding is instituted when an interested person files a petition for an abbreviated probate ENGROSSED ORIGINAL proceeding with the Court in accordance with the provisions of § 20-304.

— Upon a request for abbreviated probate filed in accordance § 20-304, the Court or the Register of Wills shall appoint one or more personal representatives, except as ENROLLED ORIGINAL provided in § 20-322.

(1)“(1) ifIf the will appears to have been duly executed and contains a recital by attesting witnesses of facts constituting due execution;

or (2)“(2) uponUpon the verified statement of any person with personal knowledge of the circumstances of execution, whether or not the person was in fact an attesting witness, reciting facts showing due execution of the will.

If the Register of Wills requires additional proof, the ENGROSSED ORIGINAL matter may be referred to the Court to determine if one or more personal representatives shall be appointed and whether the will should be admitted to probate.”.

ENGROSSED ORIGINAL The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat.

ENROLLED ORIGINAL Sec.

___________________________________ Chairman Council of the District of Columbia _________________________________ Mayor District of Columbia 3