The certificate of completion is the Probate Division form of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on which a personal representative certifies that an estate of a decedent who died on or after July 1, 1995 has been administered. It also lets the personal representative request termination of the appointment under D.C. Code, sec. 20-1301(b). On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the court publishes the original PDF and its form page at dccourts.gov.
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What is Certificate of Completion – District of Columbia?
The Certificate of Completion is a Superior Court of the District of Columbia Probate Division form on which a personal representative certifies that a decedent's estate has been fully administered and asks to end the appointment. The court describes it as the form you use to certify that an estate's probate process has been completed.
The form is headed "For estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 1995" and carries the estate's caption and ADM case number. In eight numbered statements the personal representative certifies that:
- the time for presenting creditors' claims has expired;
- interested persons were sent the final account and a notice of their right to object within 60 days, and either consented in writing or did not object;
- distribution was made in accordance with the account;
- known, unbarred creditor claims were satisfied or settled, or each outstanding claim is described in an attachment;
- statutory allowances (Homestead Allowance, Family Allowance, Exempt Property) authorized by the probate order were paid, or none were required;
- administration expenses were satisfied;
- the federal and D.C. estate tax positions are as stated, including whether the IRS closing letter and the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue Certificate of Inheritance and Estate Taxes were received.
Item 9 lists interested persons who were not served because they did not have to receive the final account. The form ends with a request to terminate the appointment, a declaration under penalty of law, a signature and a Certificate of Service.
Who needs to file Certificate of Completion – District of Columbia?
The personal representative (or the personal representatives, when more than one serve) of an estate in the Probate Division of the D.C. Superior Court completes and signs this certificate. The form wording allows for one or several representatives: "(I)(We)".
It applies to estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 1995, as printed under the title. The form is not labeled for estates of decedents who died before that date.
The personal representative can use it only after the steps it certifies have happened: the creditors' claim period has expired, the final account and notice have been sent to all interested persons, and the 60-day objection period has run or each interested person has consented in writing.
The persons the form is sent to are the interested persons listed in the Petition for Probate. Any who were not required to be served with the final account are named in item 9 instead. The personal representative also states whether he or she does or does not request termination of the appointment.
When to file Certificate of Completion – District of Columbia
Complete the Certificate of Completion after the estate has been administered and the time for presenting creditors' claims has expired, since the form certifies that fact. It also depends on the final account: interested persons must have been sent the account and the notice of the right to object within 60 days, and the 60 days must have passed without written objection, unless each interested person consented in writing. Distribution must already have been made in accordance with the account.
The Certificate of Service at the bottom records the dates on which copies of the final account, the notice and the certificate were mailed. The form prints no separate filing deadline.
Documents you need
- A copy of the notice of each interested person's right to object within 60 days after the final account was sent; the form says a copy of the notice is attached.
- A description of each undischarged creditor claim, including the creditor's name and address and the nature and amount of the claim; attach it only if a known claim remains undischarged (item 5).
How to fill out Certificate of Completion – District of Columbia
Enter the case caption
At the top, write the ADM case number and the name of the decedent after "Estate of". Check that the estate is for a decedent dying on or after July 1, 1995.
Name the personal representative(s)
In the opening line, enter the name of each personal representative and select (I) or (We) as the form's wording requires.
Confirm items 1 through 4
These certify that the claims period has expired, the final account and notice went to all interested persons, there was consent or no objection within 60 days, and distribution followed the account. Attach a copy of the notice.
Complete item 5 on creditor claims
If every known claim is satisfied or settled, leave the attachment off. If a claim remains, attach its description and mark (a) or (b), writing the detailed explanation on the lines provided for (b).
Mark item 6 allowances
Mark each statutory allowance authorized by the probate order that was paid in full: Homestead Allowance, Family Allowance or Exempt Property, or mark None required.
Confirm item 7 administration expenses
Item 7 certifies that all administration expenses and other obligations have been satisfied and the estate otherwise fully administered. No entry is needed beyond signing the certificate.
Complete item 8 on estate taxes
For the federal return, mark (a) or (b), then no tax due or tax paid, and whether the IRS closing letter has or has not been received. Do the same for the D.C. estate tax return, including the Certificate of Inheritance and Estate Taxes.
List unserved persons in item 9
Name the persons or entities in the Petition for Probate who were not served because they did not have to receive the final account. Leave the lines clear if everyone was served.
Choose the termination request
Select (do) or (do not) in the request to terminate your appointment under D.C. Code, sec. 20-1301(b), and adjust (I)/(We) and (my)/(our) to match.
Sign and date the certificate
Each personal representative signs on a signature line under the declaration made under penalty of law, and the date goes on the Dated line.
Complete the Certificate of Service
Enter the representative's name, the estate name, the mailing dates for the account and notice and for this certificate, and the names and addresses of all interested persons served. Sign the certificate.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that all selections, dates and attachments are in place. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and submit it through the channels described under How to submit.
How to submit Certificate of Completion – District of Columbia
The form prints no address, portal, appointment rule or fee, so the channels are those of the Probate Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, whose caption and ADM case number the form carries. The court's page for the form offers the PDF for download.
Two deliveries are named on the form itself:
- Mail to interested persons: the Certificate of Service states that a copy of the final account, the corresponding notice and a copy of this Certificate of Completion were mailed, postage prepaid, to each person and entity listed, with the mailing dates. Persons listed in item 9 are not served.
- Attachments: attach a copy of the notice of the right to object, and a description of each undischarged creditor claim if item 5 applies.
For where and how to file the signed certificate in the estate's case, contact the Probate Division or check the court's form page at https://www.dccourts.gov/court-resources/search-forms/certificate-of-completion. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Omitting the copy of the notice of the right to object; item 2 says a copy of that notice is attached to the certificate.
- Skipping the attachment describing an undischarged creditor claim (name, address, nature and amount) when item 5 says a claim remains.
- Leaving the item 5 choice unmarked: for an outstanding claim, the form asks you to indicate whether option (a) or option (b) applies.
- Leaving item 6 or the tax boxes in item 8 unmarked, including whether the IRS closing letter and the D.C. Certificate of Inheritance and Estate Taxes have or have not been received.
- Not choosing "(do) (do not)" in the request to terminate the appointment under D.C. Code, sec. 20-1301(b).
- Leaving item 9 blank without checking whether any Petition for Probate interested persons were not required to be served with the final account.
- Signing the declaration without dating it, or leaving off the signature on the Certificate of Service.
- Filling in the Certificate of Service mailing dates before the final account, notice and certificate have actually been mailed.
Frequently asked questions
What is a certificate of completion in D.C. probate?
It is a Superior Court of the District of Columbia Probate Division form on which a personal representative certifies that an estate has been fully administered. The court describes it as the form used to certify that an estate's probate process has been completed.
Who signs the Certificate of Completion?
The personal representative signs it, and every personal representative signs when more than one serve. The signature falls under a declaration, made under penalty of law, that the contents are true and correct to the best of the signer's knowledge, information and belief. A separate signature goes on the Certificate of Service.
Which estates can use this version of the form?
This version is headed "For estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 1995." The form is not labeled for estates of decedents who died before that date, so check the decedent's date of death before you complete it.
What do I attach to the Certificate of Completion?
Attach a copy of the notice sent to interested persons about their right to object within 60 days. If a known creditor claim remains undischarged, also attach a description of each such claim with the creditor's name and address and the nature and amount of the claim.
Does the certificate end my appointment as personal representative?
The form asks you to state whether you do or do not request termination of your appointment under D.C. Code, sec. 20-1301(b). It is a request. The form does not say how the court acts on it, so follow the Probate Division's directions.
Who gets a copy of the Certificate of Completion?
The Certificate of Service states that a copy of the final account, the notice and this certificate were mailed, postage prepaid, to each listed interested person. Persons who did not have to be served with the final account are named in item 9 instead.
Can I fill out the Certificate of Completion online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the certificate with the court; you submit it through the Probate Division's channels and mail the required copies yourself.
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