Opinion ID: 2331585
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Trial Court's Jurisdiction to Determine Whether the Accounts were Part of the Estate

Text: Valentine asserts that the trial court had no jurisdiction to determine whether the accounts maintained in Virginia were part of the estate. We cannot agree. The Probate Division of the Superior Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the estate of any decedent who was domiciled in the District at the time of death. Lipscomb v. Lipscomb, 105 U.S.App. D.C. 240, 265 F.2d 822 (1959) (unless decedent was domiciled in District of Columbia, District courts are without jurisdiction to probate will); In re Estate of Dapolito, 331 A.2d 327 (D.C.1975) (jurisdictional issue related to whether decedent was domiciled in District of Columbia). See also REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY RE: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE REFORM ACT OF 1980, p. 11 (explaining that Superior Court may exercise jurisdiction over the estate of a person domiciled in the District). Clearly, the trial court had subject matter jurisdiction over the estate. Since the court had general subject matter jurisdiction over the estate, it also had more specific subject matter jurisdiction over the dispute as to ownership of the funds from the jointly-registered accounts because the dispute was a claim. . . existing between the executor and a legatee. D.C.Code ง 11-921(a)(5)(A)(vi). Indeed, Valentine's counsel at the time conceded the court's general subject matter jurisdiction at the January 23, 1997, hearing when he said I don't think we've ever disagreed with this Court's right to determine ... and jurisdiction to determine who is the owner of those funds. Valentine also argues on appeal that the court erred in failing to hold an evidentiary hearing on the issue of its jurisdiction over the accounts prior to making any other determinations. Her brief cites five cases in support of this proposition, only two of which have even limited relevance. Both of these cases hold that in probate matters where there is a dispute as to the domicile of the decedent, the court must address the question of subject matter jurisdiction first. See Lipscomb, supra, 105 U.S.App. D.C. at 240, 265 F.2d at 822; Dapolito, supra, 331 A.2d at 327. There was no dispute here as to Delaney's domicile at the time of his death. Furthermore, far from contesting jurisdiction, Valentine conceded it at the January 23, 1997 hearing. The court was not required to hold a hearing on the matter of its jurisdiction over the estate.