{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-18-1002","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 18-1002","heading":"Deposit of will in testator's lifetime.","body":"(a)\nBeginning January 1, 2028, an original will may be deposited by a domiciliary testator, the testator's agent, or the testator's attorney, with the Register of Wills for safekeeping. The will shall be delivered and shall not be opened, except as provided in this section.\n\n(b)\nUpon payment of the required fee, the Register of Wills shall give a receipt.\n\n(c)\nThe will shall be enclosed in a sealed wrapper, which shall have endorsed on it \"Will of\", followed by:\n(1)\nThe name of the testator;\n(2)\nThe testator's address in the District of Columbia;\n(3)\nThe name of the person or persons whom the testator nominated in the will to serve as a personal representative upon the testator's death.; and\n(4)\nThe testator's Social Security number, if available.\n\n(d)\nThe Register of Wills shall endorse on the sealed wrapper containing the will:\n(1)\nThe date it was received; and\n(2)\nThe name of the person from whom it was received.\n\n(e)\n(1)\nExcept as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, during the lifetime of the testator, a deposited will may be delivered only to the testator or to a person authorized by the testator in writing to receive it.\n(2)\nIf a testator is adjudicated incapacitated or an investigation or proceeding has been initiated in accordance with [Chapter 9A of Title 22], or in accordance with Chapter 5 of Title 21, and the will was deposited with the registry less than one year from the adjudication or investigation, a court-appointed guardian, conservator, guardian ad litem, or counsel in the proceedings may be authorized to unseal and examine a deposited will of testator under procedures designed to maintain the confidential character of the document, to the extent possible, and to ensure that it will be resealed and kept on deposit after the examination. If the will of an incapacitated testator has been deposited continuously for more than one year, the will cannot be unsealed without a court order.","path":["Title 18. Wills. [Enacted title]","Chapter 10. Will Registry."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/18-1002","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"95127c9133e4c640edd8b73ec8e73d2bb767957bfa72788793c4ef44886113bb","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-18-1001","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-18-1003"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}