The personal representative is responsible for collecting the assets; paying or dealing with any claims, debts, or bills with the decedent’s funds; filing the decedent’s final income tax return and any missing returns; filing any tax returns required of the estate; keeping the interested persons informed of the progress of the estate; and distributing the remaining assets to those entitled to receive them. For additional information, see After Death – A Guide to Probate in the District of Columbia.

An appraisal of real property is not required for accounting purposes. Instead, a tax-assessed value from the DC Office of Tax and Revenue may be used. If, however, you are filing a petition for sale of real property, an appraisal is required by Superior Court, Probate Division Rule 112(b) (for estates of decedents who died before July 1, 1995).

First, consider whether additional bond is required. If so, petition to increase bond.

Next, if the estate is unsupervised and the Verification and Certificate of Notice has not been filed, include the additional assets on the Verification and Certificate of Notice when it is filed and pay any additional Court costs then.

If the estate is unsupervised and the Verification and Certificate of Notice has been filed, file a Praecipe with the Court stating the amount of any additional assets and paying any additional Court costs required. Include the additional assets in the accounts served on the interested persons.

If the estate is supervised, include the additional assets in the next account filed.

By preparing and executing a deed from you as personal representative of the estate to the person entitled to receive the house and filing the deed at the Recorder of Deeds. There is a filing fee, and other documents must be presented at filing, so check with the Recorder of Deeds office before going. The Recorder of Deeds is part of the Office of Tax and Revenue of the District of Columbia and is located at 1101 4th Street, S.W., 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20024, (202) 727-5374.

Letters of administration are valid as long as the estate is open. However, many financial institutions want letters that have been issued within 60 days of the date of whatever transaction is being made. Updated Letters for open estates can be purchased for $1.00 each at the Probate Division, 515 5th Street, NW, 3rd Floor, Room 314, Washington, DC 20001, or requested by mail. See above.

Send each interested person a letter stating your intent to resign. If after 15 days, no one has petitioned to be appointed successor personal representative, file a petition asking the Court to allow you to resign, and include a copy of the letter. See DC Code, sec. 20-525.

First, the personal representative should contact the Internal Revenue Service and obtain a tax identification number for the estate, called an Employer Identification Number (EIN). The telephone number is (800) 829-4933. Then the personal representative should take that number, a copy of the order appointing personal representative, an original of the letters of administration, the decedent’s death certificate, and the check or cash that needs to be deposited to the bank of his or her choosing. The personal representative can then open an account titled "Estate of ____________, your name, Personal Representative." It is best to open an account that returns cancelled checks or provides copies with the bank account statements, so it will be easier to keep records of all transactions. The bank account statements and canceled checks will be needed to prepare the account filed with the Court in supervised probate estates.

Additional or updated Letters can be purchased for $1.00 each at the Probate Division, 515 5th Street, NW, Room 314, Washington, DC 20001, or ordered by mail. To order by mail, complete the Copy Request Form and mail with check payable to "Register of Wills."

As Superior Court no longer employs a court appraiser, the petitioner/fiduciary must get their own private appraiser if the Court determines that an appraisal of an estate asset is necessary.

No, the personal representative holds the estate assets and makes the distributions to the persons entitled to receive them.