D.C. is a separate jurisdiction with its own courts, statutes and procedure. Much of what applies in Prince George’s County does not apply eighteen miles west. These are the differences that come up most in the cases we take.
Probate in the D.C. Superior Court
Estates are opened in the Probate Division on Indiana Avenue, not an Orphans’ Court. D.C. distinguishes unsupervised from supervised administration, and its small-estate threshold differs from Maryland’s. We open, administer and close D.C. estates from Bowie.
Civil Protection Orders
D.C. does not have separate protective and peace orders. The Civil Protection Order covers intrafamily relationships and sexual assault, with non-domestic and anti-stalking provisions for everyone else. Temporary orders last 14 days; a final order can run up to two years.
Domestic violence charges
Prosecuted under the Intrafamily Offenses Act, with a mandatory arrest policy. Simple assault carries up to 180 days and a $1,000 fine, and the government can proceed without the complainant.
Injury claims
D.C. follows contributory negligence like Maryland, with a narrow exception for pedestrians and cyclists hit by motor vehicles. Three years to file for negligence, one year for intentional torts.
Guardianship
Petitions go to the Probate Division with medical documentation; the court appoints a visitor and an examiner and applies a least-restrictive-alternative standard.