District of Columbia Legal Document 5 Star Rating: 
When a person in the District of Columbia dies and the size of the estate is less than $40,000, the estate may qualify for a simplified process for administering small estates. This process requires much less documentation and time.
This procedure involves the use of a District of Columbia Small Estate Affidavit. A District of Columbia Small Estate Affidavit is a sworn statement signed under oath by an heir or heirs of an estate attesting that the estate’s value is worth less than $40,000.
A District of Columbia Small Estate Affidavit is a device used to distribute assets that belonged to a Decedent in a summary distribution manner to survivors without full probate administration.
The District of Columbia Affidavit of Small Estate is extremely useful when heirs need quick access to the deceased’s bank accounts and securities to make funeral arrangements.
The District of Columbia Small Estate Affidavit should be prepared by the executor of the deceased’s will or the person with the most knowledge of the deceased’s assets. If the Decedent dies without a will, then the spouse and heirs must prepare a District of Columbia Affidavit of Small Estate.
Information and documentation needed when drafting a District of Columbia Small Estate Affidavit:
- An itemized list of the fair market value of the assets.
- Copies of the Death Certificate and social security card.
- Confirmation that the deceased is a former resident of the District of Columbia.
- The status at death, intestate or testate.
- List of all heirs and addresses for each.
- A list of all unpaid expenses and debts of the Decedent, including funeral costs.
The District of Columbia Small Estate Affidavit is used to inform a probate court that a particular estate meets the requirements of District of Columbia Small Estate laws. The District of Columbia caps the value of a small estate at $40,000 in real and personal property.
A District of Columbia Small Estate Affidavit is filed in the Court where the Decedent lived at the time of death. The District of Columbia Affidavit of Small Estate informs the Court of the value of the deceased’s assets.
Once the District of Columbia Affidavit of Small Estate is filed, the Court issues an order approving the Affidavit and transferring the property to the heirs.