Seals of the Court of Appeals and Superior Court
District of Columbia Courts
VISIT US | CAREERS

Fees - Can a petitioner be reimbursed for legal fees paid to file a Petition for a General Proceeding?

Yes, if the Court finds the Petition for a General Proceeding to be meritorious and approves the request. The request must be approved by the Court before the fees are reimbursed. Failure to obtain prior Court approval could result in removal. It is recommended that a petition for compensation completed by counsel accompany any petition for approval of such an expenditure.

In re Randolph Brevard, Sr., 2011 INT 44, 8-5-11 order; In re Leon M. Stanard, 2011 INT 20, May 26, 2011 order

Fees - Can payment for mileage be claimed?

Yes, the Court may, in its discretion, approve compensation for mileage within the Washington, DC, Metropolitan area if the claim is reasonable. Travel time and mileage must be detailed separately in the petition for compensation and cannot be included in the service rendered at the destination. The date, time, distance traveled, location, and the purpose of the travel must be stated. The Court rate for mileage is currently 51 cents per mile, the rate paid to attorneys on the CCAN and CJA panels.

See In re Brenda J. Wilson and In re Irene Mason, 139 WLR 2753 (DC Superior Court, December 27, 2011); In re Alice Bush, 2008 INT 286, 2-3-12 order; In re Fred T. Darson, 2011 INT 328, 1-12-12 order; In re Robert Washington, 2008 INT 79, 1-12-12 order; In re Ruby McDougald, 2008 INT 63, 1-12-12 order

Fees - Can payment for travel time and mileage to and from Court be claimed?

Travel time and mileage to and from Court is not compensated in accordance with the practice in CCAN and CJA cases.

See In re Brenda J. Wilson and In re Irene Mason, 139 WLR 2753 (DC Superior Court, December 27, 2011); In re Alice Bush, 2008 INT 286, 2-3-12 order; In re Fred T. Darson, 2011 INT 328, 1-12-12 order; In re Robert Washington, 2008 INT 79, 1-12-12 order; In re Ruby McDougald, 2008 INT 63, 1-12-12 order

Fees - Can payment for travel time be claimed?

Yes, the Court may, in its discretion, approve compensation for ordinary travel time within the Washington, DC, Metropolitan area if the claim is reasonable. Travel time must be detailed separately in the petition for compensation and cannot be included in the service rendered at the destination. The date, time, distance traveled, location, and the purpose of the travel must be stated. Travel time must be in tenths of an hour. Travel time from an office outside the Washington, DC, Metropolitan area may not be compensable.

See In re Brenda J. Wilson and In re Irene Mason, 139 WLR 2753 (DC Superior Court, December 27, 2011); In re Alice Bush, 2008 INT 286, 2-3-12 order; In re Fred T. Darson, 2011 INT 328, 1-12-12 order; In re Robert Washington, 2008 INT 79, 1-12-12 order; In re Ruby McDougald, 2008 INT 63, 1-12-12 order; In re Joyce Bradshaw/In re Yvonne Sewell, 2000 INT 177 & 2011 INT 240, 2-9-12 order

Serving as a Guardian of a Minor -The guardian will not respond. What do I do?

It depends upon your relationship to the case and what you are asking the guardian to do. If the minor’s money is needed for care of the minor and you are the caretaker of the child, petition the Court to approve the expenditure. However, be advised that the Court will wish to know that the expenditure is in the best interests of the child in the view of the guardian.

Other Questions - What do I do if I discover more assets after the Court has issued a final order?

If assets are discovered after a final order has issued, a supplemental petition for small estate proceeding and written verification of those newly found assets must be filed. If the amount discovered increases the estate assets over $40,000.00, then a petition for probate for a large estate must be filed.

Accounting Question - What is Financial Account Information form (form 27)?

It is the Financial Account Information form that a guardian is required to file with the account and includes such information as the name on an account, the name and address of the bank or financial institution, and the account number. The form is maintained under seal and is available only to authorized Court personnel unless otherwise included in the public record.