State guide
District of Columbia
The District of Columbia Probate Division has a dedicated Probate Self-Help Center, and large-estate notices are handled through the Probate Division after the personal representative identifies the publications. Current official sources also show a mismatch on small-estate thresholds: the D.C. Code now says $80,000 for a small-estate proceeding, while some DC Courts pages still display $40,000; the separate affidavit transfer statute remains $40,000 without real property. ([dccourts.gov](https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-divisions/probate-division/probate-self-help-center?utm_source=openai))
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Publishing the notice
- D.C. Code § 20-704 requires publication within 20 days after appointment once a week for 2 successive weeks in a legal periodical or newspaper of general circulation in the District, or another publication allowed by rule; the large-estates page says the personal representative chooses the two newspapers and the Probate Division sends the notice. ([code.dccouncil.gov](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/20-704?utm_source=openai))
- Creditor claim deadline
- 6 months after first publication. ([code.dccouncil.gov](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/20-903?utm_source=openai))
- Law
- D.C. Code §§ 20-704, 20-903, 20-351, 20-361. ([code.dccouncil.gov](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/20-704?utm_source=openai))
- Small-estate limit
- $40,000 for payment or delivery by affidavit, and no real property, under D.C. Code § 20-361. The small-estate proceeding statute separately says $80,000 or less under § 20-351. ([code.dccouncil.gov](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/20-361?utm_source=openai))
Official resources in District of Columbia
Official Probate Division self-help page for wills, small estates, large estates, and related forms help.
Official Probate Division landing page with links to small estates, large estates, forms, and guides.
Official court page explaining large-estate filing, publication handling, and follow-up filings.
Official court page for small-estate proceedings, filing items, and publication if ordered.
Official D.C. Code chapter containing the small-estate and opening-estate statutes.
Key facts for District of Columbia
- A personal representative must publish notice within 20 days after appointment, once a week for 2 successive weeks. ([code.dccouncil.gov](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/20-704?utm_source=openai))
- Known or reasonably ascertainable creditors must be sent the text of the first notice by registered or certified mail within 20 days after appointment. ([code.dccouncil.gov](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/20-704?utm_source=openai))
- Estate claims are barred unless presented within 6 months after the first publication date. ([code.dccouncil.gov](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/20-903?utm_source=openai))
- The large-estates page says the Probate Division sends the notice to the two newspapers chosen by the personal representative. ([dccourts.gov](https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-divisions/probate-division/estates/large-decedents-estates?utm_source=openai))
- The affidavit transfer statute applies only if the entire probate estate, net of liens, does not exceed $40,000 and includes no real property. ([code.dccouncil.gov](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/20-361?utm_source=openai))
- The current D.C. Code says a small-estate proceeding may be used when estate value is $80,000 or less. ([code.dccouncil.gov](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/titles/20/chapters/3/index.full.html?utm_source=openai))
What to do next
- Use the Probate Self-Help Center or Probate Division pages first; DC provides probate-specific help and official forms guidance. ([dccourts.gov](https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-divisions/probate-division/probate-self-help-center?utm_source=openai))
- If the estate is modest, compare the $80,000 small-estate proceeding statute with the separate $40,000 affidavit statute and choose the correct path. ([code.dccouncil.gov](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/titles/20/chapters/3/index.full.html?utm_source=openai))
- For a large estate, identify the required publications early because the personal representative selects them and the Probate Division transmits the notice. ([dccourts.gov](https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-divisions/probate-division/estates/large-decedents-estates?utm_source=openai))
Helpful guides
- What is a notice to creditors in probate?
- How to publish a probate notice in a newspaper
- How much does it cost to publish a probate notice?
- What counts as a legal newspaper for probate notices
Creditor deadline calculator →