---
title: "DC Executor Checklist: First 30 Days | MCC Solutions"
description: "DC executor checklist: first 30 days, up to $40,000 small estate limit, notary rules vary, 2 will witnesses, official court links."
url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/notary/district-of-columbia-executor-checklist"
---

Executor checklist · District of Columbia

# District of Columbia executor and estate paperwork checklist

The first 30 days, the small estate route, the will at probate, and the official pages to ask, from this state's own court and statute pages.

**Quick answer.** In the first 30 days, an executor in the District of Columbia orders certified death certificates, finds the original will, secures the home, car and mail, lists what the person owned and owed, and holds off on paying debts until it's clear who has authority. For the small estate route, DC's official pages give a limit of up to $40,000; it goes through the court.

✓ New Jersey commissioned notary, no. 50244803, insured for errors and omissions. [See the credentials](/about/credentials)

**Short answer.** DC: up to $40,000 small estate limit; notary rules vary; filed through the court; 2 will witnesses. 10 of 12 state facts below are confirmed on official pages; 2 are marked not confirmed, with the page to check.

**This is an organizer, not legal advice.** An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation.

## The first 30 days

Plain steps that apply wherever the person lived, with the small estate dates for this state. Ticks stay on your screen only.

- **Ask for certified death certificates, more than you think**The funeral director or vital records office issues them. Institutions often keep the copy you send, so plan on one each.
- **Make sure Social Security knows**Funeral homes generally report the death. If not, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). A surviving spouse, or some children if there's no spouse, may get a one-time $255 payment.
- **Locate the signed will and any changes**The signed original matters more than a copy. Keep it whole and somewhere safe, and note who else has a copy.
- **Protect the property**Change locks if keys are out, keep insurance paid, and have the mail forwarded so bills and statements reach you.
- **Hold off on paying debts or giving things away**Wait until you know which route applies and who has authority. If something can't wait, ask the probate clerk or an attorney.
- **Know that a power of attorney has ended**A power of attorney ends when the principal dies; the agent's authority stops there.
- **Write down every asset and debt**For each, record whose name it's in and whether a beneficiary or co-owner is listed; those usually go straight to that person.
- **Compare the estate with $40,000**That's the small estate figure on this state's official page. Count only what the page says counts.
- **Open a simple money log**One line per payment or deposit, with the date, who, how much and the receipt. It makes the final accounting easy.
- **Get the estate its own tax number and bank account**The IRS asks for an EIN before the estate's Form 1041, which applies once the estate has more than $600 of gross income in a year.

Sources for the federal steps: [Social Security Administration: When someone dies](https://ssa.gov/personal-record/when-someone-dies) · [IRS: Deceased taxpayers, filing the estate income tax return (Form 1041)](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/deceased-taxpayers-filing-the-estate-income-tax-return-form-1041) · power of attorney: [Power of attorney at a real estate closing](/notary/guides/power-of-attorney-at-a-real-estate-closing).

## The small estate route

- #### ConfirmedSmall estate limit All assets subject to administration in DC worth $40,000 or less (the figure in effect since April 27, 2001)."All assets subject to administration in the District of Columbia do not exceed $40,000.00, effective April 27, 2001." Sources: [DC Superior Court Probate Division: Filing for the administration of a small estate (SEB) brochure (PDF)](https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/matters-docs/SEB_brochure.pdf); [DC Courts: Small estates (SEB) FAQs](https://www.dccourts.gov/faqs/small?page=1), checked November 2026
- #### Not confirmedReal estate Not confirmed — check [DC Superior Court Probate Division: Filing for the administration of a small estate (SEB) brochure (PDF)](https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/matters-docs/SEB_brochure.pdf).
- #### Not confirmedWaiting period after the death Not confirmed — check [DC Superior Court Probate Division: Filing for the administration of a small estate (SEB) brochure (PDF)](https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/matters-docs/SEB_brochure.pdf).
- #### ConfirmedNotary or oath It depends on the route. The petition is declared under penalty of law; an affidavit about personal effects, if any, must be notarized."Notarized affidavit concerning personal effects of value owned solely by the decedent, if any." Sources: [DC Superior Court Probate Division: Filing for the administration of a small estate (SEB) brochure (PDF)](https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/matters-docs/SEB_brochure.pdf); [DC Courts: Small estates (SEB) FAQs](https://www.dccourts.gov/faqs/small?page=1), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedWhere the paperwork goes Through a court office. Filed with the Register of Wills, Probate Division of DC Superior Court, in person or by mail."Office of the Register of Wills, Probate Division" Sources: [DC Superior Court Probate Division: Filing for the administration of a small estate (SEB) brochure (PDF)](https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/matters-docs/SEB_brochure.pdf); [DC Courts: Small estates (SEB) FAQs](https://www.dccourts.gov/faqs/small?page=1), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedOfficial form Petition for Administration of Small Estate. Filed with Forms 26 and 27 and a court cost of up to $150 (for $25,000.01 to $40,000). Source: [DC Superior Court Probate Division: Filing for the administration of a small estate (SEB) brochure (PDF)](https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/matters-docs/SEB_brochure.pdf), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedSimplified court procedure Small estate administration (SEB): A short court proceeding that appoints a personal representative, with notice to creditors and unknown heirs. Sources: [DC Superior Court Probate Division: Filing for the administration of a small estate (SEB) brochure (PDF)](https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/matters-docs/SEB_brochure.pdf); [DC Courts: Small estates (SEB) FAQs](https://www.dccourts.gov/faqs/small?page=1), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedSurviving spouse The surviving spouse or registered domestic partner is high in the priority list to serve."The surviving spouse, registered domestic partner, or children of the intestate decedent" Sources: [DC Superior Court Probate Division: Filing for the administration of a small estate (SEB) brochure (PDF)](https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/matters-docs/SEB_brochure.pdf); [DC Courts: Small estates (SEB) FAQs](https://www.dccourts.gov/faqs/small?page=1), checked November 2026

## The will at probate

How the will had to be signed matters when it's offered to the court.

- #### ConfirmedWitnesses the will needed Two or more credible witnesses, who attest in the testator's presence."at least two credible witnesses" Sources: [D.C. Code 18-103, Execution of written will; attestation (DC Council)](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/18-103); [D.C. Code 18-102, Capacity to make a will (DC Council)](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/18-102); [D.C. Code Title 18, Chapter 1, Wills (DC Council)](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/titles/18/chapters/1); [D.C. Code 18-905, Execution of electronic will (DC Council)](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/18-905); [Nolo (secondary source): Making a Will in the District of Columbia (Nolo, updated October 2022)](https://nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/district-of-columbia-make-will-31908.html), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedSelf-proving affidavit Not available. Nolo's D.C. page says D.C. doesn't offer the self-proving option that spares the witnesses from going to court to testify that they saw the will signed."D.C. does not give you this option" Source: [Nolo (secondary source): Making a Will in the District of Columbia (Nolo, updated October 2022)](https://nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/district-of-columbia-make-will-31908.html), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedIf the will is handwritten Not recognized unless witnessed: a will is void unless two credible witnesses attest and sign it in the testator's presence (D.C. Code 18-103). The section's only exceptions are oral (nuncupative) wills and electronic wills."attested and subscribed in the presence of the testator, by at least two credible witnesses" Source: [D.C. Code 18-103, Execution of written will; attestation (DC Council)](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/18-103), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedA witness who inherits An interested witness can lose any gift the will leaves them (Nolo, citing D.C. Code 18-104). Source: [Nolo (secondary source): Making a Will in the District of Columbia (Nolo, updated October 2022)](https://nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/district-of-columbia-make-will-31908.html), checked November 2026

## Want us to handle it?

We order certified records, pick up and deliver documents, get the small estate affidavit signed and notarized, and file papers near where the estate is, in any state. We are not lawyers.

**Price:** Quote-based, from $199 per job plus government and court fees at cost. Starting rates. Your exact price is quoted after we confirm a local notary/runner, before you pay.

[Ask for estate paperwork help](/notary/estate-paperwork-help-out-of-state#request)

## Documents to gather

- Safe deposit box location and keys
- Certified death certificates
- The original will and any codicils
- Deeds and mortgage statements
- Vehicle titles and registrations
- Recent bank, brokerage and retirement statements
- Life insurance policies and annuities
- The last few years of tax returns
- Recent bills, loan and credit card statements
- Pension, Social Security and benefit letters
- The official small estate form: Petition for Administration of Small Estate

## Who to notify

Brokerage and retirement accounts, Life insurance companies, Utilities and phone, Landlord or mortgage servicer, Credit card companies, Pension or employer, Social Security (if the funeral home hasn't), Banks and credit unions. A brief letter and a copy of the death certificate usually start each one; note the date and the person you reached.

## Documents needed abroad

- #### ConfirmedA death certificate needed abroad Apostilles for this state's documents come from the Office of the Secretary, Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA). $15 per document. Source: [Office of the Secretary, Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA)](https://os.dc.gov/page/authentications-frequently-asked-questions), checked November 2026

## Where to ask

An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation. Official pages for DC:

- [DC Superior Court Probate Division: Filing for the administration of a small estate (SEB) brochure (PDF)](https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/matters-docs/SEB_brochure.pdf)
- [DC Courts: Small estates (SEB) FAQs](https://www.dccourts.gov/faqs/small?page=1)

## Still to confirm

- Real estate: check [DC Superior Court Probate Division: Filing for the administration of a small estate (SEB) brochure (PDF)](https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/matters-docs/SEB_brochure.pdf)
- Waiting period after the death: check [DC Superior Court Probate Division: Filing for the administration of a small estate (SEB) brochure (PDF)](https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/matters-docs/SEB_brochure.pdf)

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. We are not lawyers, and MCC Solutions is not a law firm. An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation. Facts checked November 2026.

## Common questions

**Is there a small estate route in the District of Columbia?**

On the official pages we read: All assets subject to administration in DC worth $40,000 or less (the figure in effect since April 27, 2001). Through a court office. Filed with the Register of Wills, Probate Division of DC Superior Court, in person or by mail.

**Does the small estate paperwork in the District of Columbia need a notary?**

It depends on the route. The petition is declared under penalty of law; an affidavit about personal effects, if any, must be notarized.

**Is there an official DC form?**

Petition for Administration of Small Estate. Filed with Forms 26 and 27 and a court cost of up to $150 (for $25,000.01 to $40,000). Link: https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/matters-docs/SEB_brochure.pdf

**How many witnesses did a will in the District of Columbia need?**

Two or more credible witnesses, who attest in the testator's presence.

**What about a self-proving affidavit in the District of Columbia?**

Not available. Nolo's D.C. page says D.C. doesn't offer the self-proving option that spares the witnesses from going to court to testify that they saw the will signed.

**What if the only will in the District of Columbia is handwritten?**

Not recognized unless witnessed: a will is void unless two credible witnesses attest and sign it in the testator's presence (D.C. Code 18-103). The section's only exceptions are oral (nuncupative) wills and electronic wills.

**Who answers questions about an estate in the District of Columbia?**

An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation. The official pages behind this checklist: DC Superior Court Probate Division: Filing for the administration of a small estate (SEB) brochure (PDF).

Related: [Executor guide by state](/notary/executor-guide-by-state) · [Will signing requirements](/notary/will-signing-requirements-district-of-columbia) · [Apostille steps](/notary/apostille-district-of-columbia) · [Estate paperwork help](/notary/estate-paperwork-help-out-of-state)

## Family far from the estate?

[See estate paperwork help](/notary/estate-paperwork-help-out-of-state)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)