Standard Probate Order (Es)

There are all sorts of forms executors, beneficiaries, and probate court clerks have to fill out and correspond with during probate and estate settlement, including affidavits, letters, petitions, summons, orders, and notices.

Standard Probate Order (Es) is a commonly used form within District of Columbia. Here’s an overview of what the form is and means, including a breakdown of the situations when (or why) you may need to use it:

Atticus Fast Facts About Standard Probate Order (Es)

Sometimes it’s tough to find a quick summary— here’s the important details you should know about Standard Probate Order (Es):

• This form pertains to the State of District of Columbia

Government forms are not typically updated often, though when they are, it often happens rather quietly. While Atticus works hard to keep this information about District of Columbia’s Form Standard Probate Order (Es) up to date, certain details can change from time-to-time with little or no communication.

Step 1 - Download the correct District of Columbia form based on the name and ID if applicable

Double check that you have both the correct form name and the correct form ID. Some District of Columbia probate forms can look remarkably similar, so it’s best to double, even triple-check that you’re using the right one! Keep in mind that not all States have a standardized Form ID system for their probate forms.

Step 2 - Complete the Document

Fill out all relevant fields in Form Standard Probate Order (Es), take a break, and then review. Probate and estate settlement processes in DC are long enough to begin with, and making a silly error can push your timeline even farther back. No thank you!

Note: If you don’t currently know all of the answers and are accessing Form Standard Probate Order (Es) online, be sure to avoid closing the browser tab and potentially losing all your progress (or use a platform like Atticus to help avoid making mistakes).

Step 3 - Have Form witnessed or notarized (if required)

Some States and situations require particular forms to be notarized. If you have been instructed to get the document notarized or see it in writing on the document, then make sure to hire a local notary. There are max notary fees in the United States that are defined and set by local law. Take a look at our full guide to notary fees to make sure you aren’t overpaying or getting ripped off.

Step 4 - Submit Standard Probate Order (Es) to the relevant office

This is most often the local probate court where the decedent (person who passed away) is domiciled (permanently resides) or the institution involved with this particular form (e.g. a bank). Some offices allow you to submit forms online, other’s don’t, and we while we generally recommend going in-person to expedite the process, sometimes that simply isn’t an option.

It’s also a generally good idea to establish a positive working relationship with any probate clerk (unfortunately there’s enough people & process out there making things more difficult and unnecessarily confusing for them), so a best practice is to simply ask the probate clerk proactively exactly how and where they’d prefer you to submit all forms.

Need help getting in touch with a local probate court or identifying a domicile probate jurisdiction?

👉 Find and Contact your Local Probate Court

👉 What is a Domicile Jurisdiction?

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Different probate forms or processes can require different deadlines or response times for completing the appropriate form.

While some steps in the process are bound to specific deadlines (like petitioning for probate, having to submit an inventory of assets, or filing applicable notices to creditors and beneficiaries), many probate forms or processes are not tied to a specific deadline since the scope of work can vary based on situational factors or requirements involved.

Either way, there are a bunch of practical reasons why personal representatives should work to complete each step as thoroughly and quickly as possible when completing probate in District of Columbia.

5 reasons you should submit this form as quickly as possible:

1. The sooner you begin, the faster District of Columbia can allow heirs and beneficiaries to get their share of assets subject to probate. Acting promptly can also decrease the costs & overall mental fatigue through an otherwise burdensome process.
   
   Helpful Context: What’s the Difference Between Probate and Non-Probate Assets?

2. In general, creditors of an estate usually have around 3-6 months from the time you file notice to creditors to file any claims for debt against the deceased’s assets. If they don’t, then that debt is forfeited (and more importantly, the executor won’t be held personally responsible). So doing this sooner means you have a better idea of who is owed what and ensures you won’t get a surprise collector months later.

3. Not filing a will within 30 days (on average) could mean that the probate process proceeds according to intestate laws (laws that govern what happens to someone's stuff without a will) or is subject to unnecessary supervision by the probate court. And if you aren't directly related to the deceased (a.k.a. next of kin), this could also mean you lose your inheritance.

4. It’s important to file any necessary state tax returns on behalf of the deceased or estate by the following tax season in District of Columbia. If you don’t, you could owe penalties and interest. This also includes any necessary federal tax returns such as Forms 1040, 1041, or even a Form 706 estate tax return.

5. If a house in the State of District of Columbia is left empty (or abandoned) for a while, insurance can get dicey. For example, if the house burns down and no one has been there for a year, an insurance company may get out of paying your claim.

If you’re not using Atticus to get specific forms, deadlines, and timelines for District of Columbia probate, then try and stay as organized as possible, pay close attention to the dates mentioned in any correspondence you have with the State’s government officials, call the local District of Columbia probate clerk or court for exact answers regarding Form Standard Probate Order (Es), and when in doubt— consult a qualified trust & estates lawyer for that area.

Standard Probate Order (Es) is one of the many probate court forms available for download through Atticus.

It may also be available through some District of Columbia probate court sites, such as . In order to access the latest version, be updated with any revisions, and get full instructions on how to complete each form, check out the Atticus Probate & Estate Settlement software or consider hiring a qualified legal expert locally within District of Columbia.

While Atticus automatically provides the latest forms, be sure to choose the correct version of Form Standard Probate Order (Es) f using any other site or resource in order to avoid having to re-complete the form process and/or make another trip to the District of Columbia probate court office.

Standard Probate Order (Es) is a .pdf, so opening it should be as simple as clicking “View Form” from within the Atticus app or by clicking the appropriate link found on any District of Columbia-provided government platform. Once you’ve opened the form, you should be able to directly edit the form before saving or printing.

Here’s the text, verbatim, that is found on District of Columbia Form Standard Probate Order (Es). You can use this to get an idea of the context of the form and what type of information is needed.

Standard Probate Order Diciembre del 2010 – 142.10.v1 Translated by JTG, inc. 09/2017 TRIBUNAL SUPERIOR DEL DISTRITO DE COLUMBIA DIVISIÓN TESTAMENTARIA Y DE SUCESIONES Patrimonio de ________________________________ Edad _________ Persona fallecida Orden de validación estándar de un testamento Standard Probate Order (Para patrimonios de fallecidos a partir del 1 de julio de 1995 inclusive) Habiendo considerado la petición de un proceso de validación estándar de un testamento (supervisado) (no supervisado), la aceptación y el consentimiento de cada representante personal, el poder notarial de cada persona no residente y la fianza, si corresponde, por el monto de $____________________________, todos presentados en este documento, y considerando, además, que la publicación de notificación en virtud de la Norma 403(a)(1) de la División Testamentaria y de Sucesiones del Tribunal Superior ha sido efectiva y que se enviaron de manera oportuna copias a todas las personas interesadas o que se realizaron los esfuerzos diligentes para hacerlo como lo evidencia la declaración verificada adjunta al presente documento, y sin que se hayan presentado contestaciones adversas, este día __________ de __________________________ del __________, SE RESUELVE que la administración de este patrimonio sea: (no supervisada) (supervisada) por los siguientes motivos: El testamento del difunto ordena supervisión. El testamento del difunto ordena una administración no supervisada, pero se requiere una administración supervisada por los siguientes motivos: ______________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Otro ______________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ y además, SE RESUELVE que ____________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________ sea (sean) designado(s) representante(s) personal(es) del patrimonio de ________________________________________________________, persona fallecida, y además, _________ ADM _________ (Enlace a _________ WIL _________) Standard Probate Order Diciembre del 2010 – 142.10.v1 Translated by JTG, inc. 09/2017 SE RESUELVE que el Tribunal determine si el difunto ha muerto intestado; el testamento con fecha del _________________________________ y el/los codicilo(s) con fecha del _________________________________ adjunto(s) a la petición sea (sean) admitido(s) para la validación y registro como la última voluntad y testamento del difunto arriba mencionado y como testamento internacional en los casos en que corresponda; se apruebe la fianza presentada en este documento por el monto de $________________; no se requiera ninguna fianza; el/los representante(s) personal(es) presente(n) una fianza adicional por la suma que el Tribunal establezca antes de la aceptación de los activos que superan el monto establecido; se asigne la suma de $10,000 del patrimonio personal de _________________________ como cónyuge supérstite o custodio del/de los hijo(s) menor(es) de edad del difunto de conformidad con la ley (únicamente para patrimonios anteriores al 27 de abril del 2001); de conformidad con la sección 20-906 del Código del Distrito de Columbia, se autorice la asignación de un bien de familia por la suma de $15,000 del patrimonio de bienes personales o inmuebles a _________________________ como cónyuge/pareja de hecho supérstite y, si no hubiese ninguno, a ______________________ como custodio de un hijo supérstite menor de edad y a _______________________ como hijo dependiente, a dividir en partes iguales entre cada uno de los hijos; de conformidad con la asignación de un bien de familia y según lo dispuesto en la sección 20-906 del Código del Distrito de Columbia, se autorice la pensión familiar por una suma razonable que no exceda los $15,000 del patrimonio de bienes personales a _________________________ como cónyuge/pareja de hecho supérstite y al/a los hijo(s) supérstite(s) menor(es) de edad a quien(es) el difunto tenía la obligación de sustentar y a los hijos que, de hecho, recibían el sustento del difunto, de conformidad con la ley; sujeto al pago del bien de familia y a la pensión familiar, y según lo dispuesto en la sección 20-906 del Código del Distrito de Columbia, se autoricen bienes muebles tangibles u otro tipo de bienes personales que no superen el valor de $10,000 a favor del cónyuge/pareja de hecho supérstite y, si no existiese, a favor de los hijos supérstites del difunto de manera conjunta como propiedad exenta; de conformidad con cualquier limitación del testamento (si el difunto falleció testado), el título 20 del Código del Distrito de Columbia o por orden del Tribunal, el/los representante(s) personal(es) pueda(n), además de cualquier otro poder o facultad que figure en el testamento y de cualquier otro derecho común o poder estatutario, ejercer dichas facultades generales que se detallan en la sección 20-741 del Código del Distrito de Columbia, sujeto a las siguientes limitaciones que, si la administración es supervisada, serán avaladas en las cartas de administración: ___________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________ JUEZ cc: Incluir al abogado que consta en actas y al representante personal.