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                  - Home
                  - Grants                      - Project Grants
                    - Technical Assistance Grants
                    - Curriculum Adaptation & Training Grant
                    - Strategic Initiatives Grants
                    - Education Support Program
                    - Funding Toolkit 
                  - News
                  - Grantee Spotlights
                  - Priority Investment Areas                      - Court Pandemic Response and Recovery Grant Program 
                  - Grant Management
                  - About SJI                      - Board of Directors
                    - Executive Director
                    - Past Members
                    - SJI Budget 

### Supporting the Nation's Judicial System & the Public it Serves

#### 					NEWS				

## Strengthening Probate Administration

Today, the Council for Court Excellence (CCE) and the D.C. Access to Justice Commission (ATJC) are publishing Strengthening Probate Administration in the District of Columbia. The report, created with support from the State Justice Institute, includes practical recommendations spanning 20 different topic areas, including:

                      - •   Expanding Community Education on Estate Planning and Probate Administration;
                      - •   Simplifying Transfers of Certain Property and Notice Requirements;
                      - •   Increasing Access to Self-Help Materials and Legal Advice;
                      - •    Adjusting Levels for Allowances, Reimbursements, and Small Estates; and more.

When a person dies, their debts must be paid, and their property distributed, through the probate process. Probate is a complex area of law, and many people cannot afford an attorney to guide them through it. In January 2020, CCE and ATJC formed an expert Working Group to address the challenges faced by self-represented individuals during probate. The working group ultimately developed recommendations in 20 areas to strengthen probate processes for everyone and increase access to justice for low- and moderate-income people.

The report’s release comes after over two years of research into other jurisdictions, case reviews, and interviews with self-represented individuals, D.C. probate court employees, and legal practitioners. The diverse and distinguished Working Group included experienced probate lawyers, public interest advocates, independent subject-matter experts, and Superior Court judges and the Register of Wills as advisory members.

To view the full report, click here: http://www.courtexcellence.org/uploads/File/Strengthening%20Probate%20Admin%20in%20DC%202_9_22.pdf

### 

                    - CCE-ATJC  (62 kB)

#### LATEST NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

                  -  Sixteen State Courts Participate in Groundbreaking Workshop for Racial Justice Education  Read More**   
                  -  New Resource: The Rural Justice Collaborative Digest for June 2024  Read More**   
                  -  SJI Board Awards FY 2024 Third Quarter Grants  Read More**   
                  -  SJI Executive Director, Jonathan Mattiello, Congressional Briefing Panelist on Capitol Hill  Read More**   

#### CONTACT US

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                       Tel: 703.660.4979

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                       Fairfax, VA 22033         

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