B 26-0674 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Strengthening Probate Administration Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

This emergency bill updates the rules for abbreviated probate proceedings in the District of Columbia to clarify how estates are handled and to expand the methods for notifying interested parties. It allows the Register of Wills to refer cases to the Court if additional proof is needed to appoint a personal representative or admit a will, while also clarifying that the 2024 probate reforms apply only to estates where the person died on or after March 21, 2025. Additionally, the legislation broadens the options for public notice by permitting announcements in newspapers of general circulation, not just legal periodicals, and sets the effective date for these changes to May 14, 2026.

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2026

Committee Review

Council Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Apr 30, 2026 Signed May 29, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduction → Enrollment · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends the District of Columbia's probate laws to streamline the process for admitting wills and appointing personal representatives. It allows the Register of Wills to refer difficult cases to the Court for a decision on whether to admit a will or appoint a representative, rather than getting stuck on procedural delays. The bill also expands the methods for publishing legal notices, allowing newspapers in addition to legal periodicals.

Scope change

The bill's applicability is limited to estates where the decedent died on or after March 21, 2025, and the law takes effect on May 14, 2026.

REQUIREMENT

Authorized the Register of Wills to refer proceedings to the Court to decide if a will should be admitted to probate or if a personal representative should be appointed.

Changed the requirement for publishing legal notices to allow notices in a legal periodical OR a newspaper of general circulation in the District, instead of requiring a legal periodical exclusively.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date of the new provisions to May 14, 2026, and limited the emergency nature of the act to 90 days.

ELIGIBILITY

Restricted the application of the amended Strengthening Probate Amendment Act to estates where the decedent died on or after March 21, 2025.

Floor votes · Council May 5, 2026

How they voted

13–0

Passed

Total votes 13

May 5, 2026

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 5, 2026

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (13-0)

council

Apr 30, 2026

Introduced

B26-0674 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors