reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
DC Code § 20-103 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 20-103. Notice

(a) First notice. — Unless personal service or notice by publication is expressly required by this title or by the Rules, the first notice required or permitted to be given to any person under this title shall be sufficient if deposited as registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed to the addressee at the address last known to the sender, with delivery restricted to the addressee. (b) Subsequent notice. — Any subsequent notice to such person in accordance with this title shall be sufficient if deposited as ordinary mail, postage prepaid, addressed either to the same address at which the first notice was received, as evidence by return receipt from the post office or, if the sender has received written notice from the addressee of a change of address, to the new address. (c) Failure of notice. — If no return receipt is received apparently signed by the addressee, and there is no proof of actual notice, no action taken in any proceeding under this title shall prejudice the rights of the person entitled to notice unless the sender verifies, to the satisfaction of the Court, that reasonable efforts to locate and warn the addressee of the pendency of the action have been made. (d) Notice to personal representative. — A personal representative or special administrator is not required to give self notice. (e) Notice for contingent interests. — If the interest of an heir or legatee is solely contingent on whether some other heir or legatee survives the decedent or some other event or period, any notice given before the contingent interest vests shall conclusively be deemed to have been given to the heir or legatee whose interest has been contingent.  (June 24, 1980, D.C. Law 3-72, § 101, 27 DCR 2155; Mar. 21, 1995, D.C. Law 10-241, § 3(e), 42 DCR 63.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-103. Section References This section is referenced in § 20-704. Cross References Notice of appointment of personal representative, see § 20-704. Editor's Notes Application of Law 10-241: See Application of Law 10-241 and Emergency act amendment notes to § 20-108.01.
DC Code § 20-104 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 20-104. Presumption

Unless otherwise expressly provided, whenever this title states that a fact shall be presumed, the presumption is rebuttable.  (June 24, 1980, D.C. Law 3-72, § 101, 27 DCR 2155.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-104.
DC Code § 20-105 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 20-105. Devolution of property at death

All property of a decedent shall be subject to this title and, upon the decedent’s death, shall pass directly to the personal representative, who shall hold the legal title for administration and distribution of the estate.  (June 24, 1980, D.C. Law 3-72, § 101, 27 DCR 2155; Jan. 25, 2018, D.C. Law 22-48, § 4(a), 64 DCR 12405.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-105.
DC Code § 20-106 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 20-106. Preference

Except as provided in sections 20-343 and 20-703 , there shall be no preference or priority between real and personal property.  (June 24, 1980, D.C. Law 3-72, § 101, 27 DCR 2155; Mar. 21, 1995, D.C. Law 10-241, § 3(f), 42 DCR 63.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-106. Editor's Notes Application of Law 10-241: See Application of Law 10-241 and Emergency act amendment notes to § 20-108.01.
DC Code § 20-107 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 20-107. Right to seek Court resolution

(a) An interested person, the beneficiary of a trust, or the Register may, at any time, petition the Court for an order, following notice to interested persons and with or without a hearing, to resolve a question or controversy arising in the course of a supervised or unsupervised administration of a decedent’s estate. (b) Any interested person in an unsupervised administration, any unpaid creditor of either the decedent or the estate whose claim is not barred, and the personal representative, may request Court action or assistance in connection with any specific issue related to the administration of the estate. Upon receiving such request, if the Court determines a hearing is necessary, the Court shall notify the personal representative and set a hearing on the matter (unless waived by all interested persons); the personal representative shall certify to the Court that the personal representative has given notice of the hearing to the interested persons, by certified mail or personal delivery at least 10 days prior to the hearing. (c) Any request filed by an interested person, including any pleading described in this title as a petition, need not be in any particular format. It will be sufficient for the purpose intended as long as it is in writing and specifically identifies the particular issue or concern which the interested person wishes the Court to review or resolve.  (June 24, 1980, D.C. Law 3-72, § 101, 27 DCR 2155; Mar. 21, 1995, D.C. Law 10-241, § 3(g), 42 DCR 63.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-107. Section References This section is referenced in § 20-406. Editor's Notes Application of Law 10-241: See Application of Law 10-241 and Emergency act amendment notes to § 20-108.01.
DC Code § 20-108 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 20-108. Appointment of guardian ad litem

If it appears to the Court that there is an apparent conflict between an interested person under a legal disability and a person described in section 20-101(d)(2)(A) , the Court may, in its discretion, appoint a guardian ad litem for the person with a legal disability.  (June 24, 1980, D.C. Law 3-72, § 101, 27 DCR 2155; Apr. 24, 2007, D.C. Law 16-305, § 34(a), 53 DCR 6198.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-108. Section References This section is referenced in § 20-101. Effect of Amendments D.C. Law 16-305 substituted “person with a legal disability” for “legally disabled person”.
DC Code § 20-108.01 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 20-108.01. Effect of fraud and evasion

(a) Whenever fraud has been perpetrated in connection with any proceeding or in any statement filed under this title or if fraud is used to avoid or circumvent the provisions or purposes of this title, any person injured thereby may obtain appropriate relief against the perpetrator of the fraud or restitution from any person (other than a bona fide purchaser) benefiting from the fraud, whether innocent or not. Any proceeding must be commenced within 2 years after the discovery of the fraud, but no proceeding may be brought against one not a perpetrator of the fraud later than 5 years after the time of commission of the fraud. This section has no bearing on remedies relating to fraud practiced on a decedent during lifetime that may affect the succession to the decedent’s estate. (b) Notwithstanding the remedy provided in subsection (a) of this section, nothing in this title shall be construed to validate any document with respect to which there was any misrepresentation, fraudulent act, or illegal provision in connection with its execution. (c) In addition to the remedy provided in subsection (a) of this section, any person convicted of a fraudulent act in connection with the collection, administration, distribution, or closing of an estate under this title and who thereby obtains property of another or causes another to lose property, shall be subject to the penalties set forth in section 122 of the District of Columbia Theft and White Collar Crimes Act of 1982, effective December 1, 1982 (D.C. Law 4-164; § 22-3222).  (Mar. 21, 1995, D.C. Law 10-241, § 3(i), 42 DCR 63.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-108.1. Emergency Legislation For temporary amendment of § 4 of D.C. Law 10-241, see § 2 of the Probate Reform Act of 1994 Emergency Amendment Act of 1995 (D.C. Act 11-79, June 28, 1995, 42 DCR 3452). Editor's Notes Application of Law 10-241: Section 4 of D.C. Law 10-241, as amended by § 2 of D.C. Law 11-54, provided that the act shall be applicable to estates of decedents who died on or after July 1, 1995. Section 32(b) of D.C. Law 15-354 provided that the section designation of § 20-108.1 of the District of Columbia Official Code is redesignated as § 20-108.01.
DC Code § 20-109 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 20-109. Effective date

This title shall apply only to an estate of a decedent who died on or after January 1, 1981. Title 20 of the D.C. Official Code enacted by virtue of An Act To enact Part III of the District of Columbia Code, entitled “Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations”, codifying the general and permanent laws relating to decedents’ estates and fiduciary relations in the District of Columbia, approved September 14, 1965 (79 Stat. 703), and An Act To amend chapter 19 of title 20 of the District of Columbia Code to provide for distribution of a minor’s share in a decedent’s personal estate where the share does not exceed the value of $1,000, approved August 11, 1971 (85 Stat. 307), shall apply to an estate of a decedent who died before January 1, 1981.  (June 24, 1980, D.C. Law 3-72, § 402, 27 DCR 2155; Aug. 2, 1983, D.C. Law 5-24, § 3, 30 DCR 3341.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-109. References in Text “Chapter 19 of title 20”, referred to in this section, did not exist in the 1981 Edition at the time of the recodification into the 2001 Edition.
DC Code § 20-401 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 4 - Supervised and Unsupervised Administration|§ 20-401. Supervised administration; in general

(a) Supervised administration is a single in rem proceeding to secure complete administration and settlement of a decedent’s estate under the continuing authority of the Court which extends until entry of an order approving distribution of the estate and discharging the personal representative or other order terminating the proceeding. A supervised personal representative is responsible to the Court, as well as to the interested parties, and is subject to directions concerning the estate made by the Court on its own motion or on the motion of any interested party. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, or as otherwise ordered by the Court, a supervised personal representative has the same duties and powers as a personal representative who is not supervised. (b) Unsupervised administration differs from supervised administration only in the following ways: in an unsupervised administration, the personal representative is not required to file any inventories or accounts with the Court, is not subject to provisions of this title which expressly apply only to a personal representative in a supervised administration, and, in general, is subject only to any order of the Court rendered upon a failure to satisfy filing requirements imposed by this title or a finding of good cause after a narrow issue or question has been brought to the Court’s attention by either the personal representative or an interested person, but otherwise is not subject to continuing Court supervision.  (Mar. 21, 1995, D.C. Law 10-241, § 3(t), 42 DCR 63.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-401. Section References This section is referenced in § 20-704 and § 20-711. Emergency Legislation For temporary amendment of § 4 of D.C. Law 10-241, see § 2 of the Probate Reform Act of 1994 Emergency Amendment Act of 1995 (D.C. Act 11-79, June 28, 1995, 42 DCR 3452). Editor's Notes Application of Law 10-241: Section 4 of D.C. Law 10-241, as amended by § 2 of D.C. Law 11-54, provided that the act shall be applicable to estates of decedents who died on or after July 1, 1995.
DC Code § 20-402 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 4 - Supervised and Unsupervised Administration|§ 20-402. Supervised administration; procedure

(a) A prayer for supervised administration may be made in the petition for probate. The Court shall order supervised administration of a decedent’s estate only: (1) If the decedent’s will directs supervised administration; (2) If the decedent’s will directs unsupervised administration, but for good cause shown the Court finds that supervised administration is necessary for the protection of persons interested in the estate; or (3) In other cases where, for good cause shown, the Court finds that supervised administration is necessary under the circumstances which the Court shall specify. (b) In no event shall the appointment of a personal representative be delayed pending the Court’s decision pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. Thus, whenever the Court must make a decision under subsection (a)(2) or (a)(3) of this section, the Court shall appoint the personal representative in unsupervised administration; thereafter, an Order for supervised administration shall convert the proceeding to supervised administration.  (Mar. 21, 1995, D.C. Law 10-241, § 3(t), 42 DCR 63.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-402. Section References This section is referenced in § 20-304, § 20-312, § 20-324, and § 20-403. Editor's Notes Application of Law 10-241: See Application of Law 10-241 and Emergency act amendment notes to § 20-401.
DC Code § 20-403 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 4 - Supervised and Unsupervised Administration|§ 20-403. Supervised administration; changes and effect

(a) The filing of signed waivers by all interested persons in accordance with section 20-731 shall be treated for all purposes as a change to unsupervised administration, but the filing of a subsequent demand for the filing of inventories and accounts by any such interested person shall be treated as a change back to supervised administration. (b) A petition for supervised administration may be filed by any interested person or by a personal representative at any time before the termination of a probate proceeding; similarly, the Court may initiate such a proceeding upon good cause shown. In either event, after notice to interested persons and a hearing (unless the hearing is waived by both the petitioner and the personal representative, or by the interested persons if petitioner is the personal representative), the Court may order supervised administration, applying the same standards as under section 20-402. In no event, however, shall any Court Order be deemed to convert the proceeding to a supervised administration unless the Order expressly so provides. The filing of such petition does not affect any powers and duties of the personal representative unless they are expressly restricted by the Court pending the hearing or final Order. (c) In the event of a change from one form of administration to another pursuant to this title, such change shall be prospective only. Except in the case of fraud, no action of the personal representative shall be set aside by the Court solely by reason of a change from one form of administration to another.  (Mar. 21, 1995, D.C. Law 10-241, § 3(t), 42 DCR 63; Apr. 18, 1996, D.C. Law 11-110, § 25(b), 43 DCR 530.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-403. Editor's Notes Application of Law 10-241: See Application of Law 10-241 and Emergency act amendment notes to § 20-401.
DC Code § 20-404 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 4 - Supervised and Unsupervised Administration|§ 20-404. Supervised administration; powers of personal representative

Unless restricted by the Court for good cause shown, a supervised personal representative has, without any interim order approving exercise of a power, all powers of personal representatives under this title. Any restriction on the power of a personal representative ordered by the Court must be endorsed on the letters of appointment and, unless so endorsed, is ineffective as to persons dealing in good faith with the personal representative.  (Mar. 21, 1995, D.C. Law 10-241, § 3(t), 42 DCR 63.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-404. Editor's Notes Application of Law 10-241: See Application of Law 10-241 and Emergency act amendment notes to § 20-401.
DC Code § 20-405 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 4 - Supervised and Unsupervised Administration|§ 20-405. Supervised administration; interim orders; distribution and closing orders

Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, supervised administration is terminated by order in accordance with the provisions of section 20-1301 . Interim orders granting other relief may be issued by the Court at any time during the pendency of a supervised administration on the application of the personal representative or any interested person.  (Mar. 21, 1995, D.C. Law 10-241, § 3(t), 42 DCR 63.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-405. Editor's Notes Application of Law 10-241: See Application of Law 10-241 and Emergency act amendment notes to § 20-401.
DC Code § 20-406 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 4 - Supervised and Unsupervised Administration|§ 20-406. Unsupervised personal representative

A personal representative appointed without court supervision having been ordered, and any other personal representative except during any period for which court supervision has been ordered, is not subject to continuing court supervision except as provided in section 20-107 or otherwise in this title, and is not subject to sections of this title applicable only to supervised personal representatives or estates.  (Mar. 21, 1995, D.C. Law 10-241, § 3(t), 42 DCR 63.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-406. Editor's Notes Application of Law 10-241: See Application of Law 10-241 and Emergency act amendment notes to § 20-401.
DC Code § 20-901 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 9 - Claims|§ 20-901. Claim not paid in normal course of administration

No proceeding to enforce a claim against a decedent’s estate may be revived or commenced before the appointment of a personal representative. After appointment, and until the estate is closed, the procedures prescribed by this chapter shall be followed. After the estate is closed, a creditor whose claim has not been barred may recover directly from the persons to whom property has been distributed as provided in sections 20-1302 and 20-1303 or from a personal representative individually as provided in section 20-1303 .  (June 24, 1980, D.C. Law 3-72, § 101, 27 DCR 2155.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-901.
DC Code § 20-902 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 9 - Claims|§ 20-902. Effect of statute of limitations

Unless a contrary intent is expressly indicated in the will, no claim which was barred by any statute of limitations at the time of the decedent’s death shall be allowed or paid. In an action against the estate of a deceased person, the interval between the death of the deceased and 6 months after the date of the first publication of notice of the appointment of a personal representative (not to exceed 2 years) shall not be computed as a part of the period within which the action must be brought.  (June 24, 1980, D.C. Law 3-72, § 101, 27 DCR 2155.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-902.
DC Code § 20-903 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 9 - Claims|§ 20-903. Limitation on presentation of claims against the estate

(a) Requirement of presentation; time; limitation. — Except as otherwise expressly provided by statute with respect to claims of the United States and the District of Columbia, (1) all claims against a decedent’s estate, whether due or to become due, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, founded on contract or other legal basis, shall be barred against the estate, the personal representative, and the heirs and legatees, unless presented within 6 months after the date of the first publication of notice of the appointment of a personal representative; and (2) all claims against the estate based on the conduct of or a contract with a personal representative shall be barred unless an action is commenced against the estate within 6 months of the date the claim arose. (b) Liens not affected. — Nothing in this section shall affect or prevent any action or proceeding to enforce any mortgage, pledge, judgment, or other recorded or otherwise perfected security interest on property of the estate. (c) Action instituted before death. — Nothing in this section shall affect any action that was commenced against the decedent if the decedent had been duly served with process before death; provided, however, that the personal representative shall not be personally liable on account of having paid a claim or distributed assets, without taking into consideration claims prosecuted in accordance with this subsection if, at the time of payment or distribution (1) the personal representative had no actual knowledge of such claim, and (2) the claimant had not timely presented such claim in accordance with section 20-905. (d) Claims covered by insurance. — Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, no claim that survives death shall be barred if: (1) the claimant commences an action against the estate within the period of limitations generally applicable to such causes of action; (2) the decedent was covered by a liability insurance policy at the time of the occurrence on which the claim is based; and (3) the subject matter of the claim is within the scope of that policy; provided, that in that cause of action recovery shall be limited to amounts payable under such liability insurance policy.  (June 24, 1980, D.C. Law 3-72, § 101, 27 DCR 2155.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-903. Section References This section is referenced in § 19-1305.05, § 20-905, and § 20-908.
DC Code § 20-904 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 20 - Probate and Administration of Decedents’ Estates. [Enacted title]|Chapter 9 - Claims|§ 20-904. Exempt assets

Where the decedent was the head of the family or a householder the property exempt under sections 15-501 through 15-503 shall continue to be exempt from all claims against the decedent.  (June 24, 1980, D.C. Law 3-72, § 101, 27 DCR 2155.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 20-904.