Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-16
THE REGISTER OF WILLS
Full Text of the Bill to Abolish That
Office
A Probate Court to BE Established-
Its Duties De-
fined.

The full text of the bill Oh. r. $3.50 to
abolish the office of register of wills, intro
duced in the House yesterday afternoon by
Mr.. Latimer, and noted briefly in The Star
is follows: That the special term of the
Supreme Court of the District Of Column
bia, heretofore known the Orphans
Court, be, and the same is hereby, desig
mated the Probate Court, and the justice of
the Supreme Court of the District of Co.
lumbia holding said court shall have and
exercise all the power and jurisdiction by
law held and exercised by the Orphans
Court of Washington county, District of
Columbia, prior to the 21st day of June, An
no Domini 1870
Section =. That said court shall hold
weekly sessions on such days as it may
appoint, and on as many days may be
necessary for the dispatch of its business.
Section 3. That it shall have full power
and authority to take the proof of wills of
either personal or real estate and admit
the same to probate and record, and, for
cause, to revoke the probate thereof; to
grant, and for any Of the causes hereinafter
mentioned to revoke letters testamentary.
letters of administration letters ad COLI
gendum and letters of guardianship, and to
appoint a successor in the place of any one
whose letters have been revoked; to hear
examine and decree upon all accounts.
claims and demands existing between ex-
ecutors and administrators and legatees, or
persons entitled to a diStributive share of
an intestate estate, or between wards and
their guardians; to enforce the distribution
of estates by executors and administrators,
and the payment or delivery by guardians
of money or property belonging to their
wards. and, concurrently with the equity
court, to direct the sale of real estate Of
decedents for the payment of their debts
and the application Of the proceeds thereof
provided, that the Jurisdiction of said I'ro-
bate Court shall not be exclusive of the iu-
risdiction of the said Equity Court to en-
tertain suits by legateeS or next of kin
| against executors icfr
wards against their guardians for an. ac-
counting; and, except in cases provided for
IN section numbered 141, any settlement of
accounts in said Probate Court shall only
be Drima facie evidence as to the correct
ness OF said accounts in any such suits or
In suits by creditors against executors or
administrators, or against heirs or devisees,
to subject the real estate of decedents to
the payment of their debts.
Sec i. That the office Of register of wills
is hereby abolished, and the powers and
duties of said register of wills are hereby
transferred TO tie clerk of the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia.
Sec. 8. That the said clerk may receive
inventories and accounts of sales examine
vouchers end state accounts of executors
administrators, collectors and guardians
subject to final passage or rejection of same
by the court; may take probate of claims
against the estates of deceased persons
that are proper to be brought before him.
and pass any claims not exceeding $500;
may take the probate of wills and accept
tAe-ooiiuS u executors, ADMINISTRATORS, col
lectors and guardians, subject to approval
by the court. 1t shall be his duty to make
full and fair entries of the proceedings of
said court, and also to make a fair record
in a strong bound book or books of all wills
proved before him or said court and of all
other matters by law directed to be record
ed in said court. and to lodge every orig
inal paper filed with him in such place of
safety as the court may appoint. He shall
make out and issue every summons pro-
cess and order of thefcourt and in every
respect act under its control and direction
in reference to matters coming within the
jurisdiction Of said court.
Sec. 8. That the costs in all probate pro-
ceedings shall be the same as the costs
now allowed by law in all proceedings on
the law and equity sides Of said court.