Rule B-7 - Inventory and Appraisals(a) USE OF APPRAISERS. Unless the personal representative is excused from filing an inventory pursuant to D.C. Code § 20-731 (1981), the Register of Wills, upon the granting of letters of administration, must issue a directive to the personal representative, requiring the personal representative to make an appointment with the standing appraisers or arrange for the use of special appraisers in preparation for the filing of an inventory.(b) VALUATION OF REAL ESTATE. The personal representative may inventory real property at the value placed thereon by the District of Columbia Department of Tax and Revenue for purposes of assessment and taxation for the fiscal year in which the decedent died. If the personal representative determines that any real property should be independently appraised, the fair market value must be determined by an appraiser who is selected by the personal representative and who is licensed by the District of Columbia.(c) VALUATION OF SECURITIES. Appraisal of securities must be made as of the date of decedent's death in accordance with principles set forth in federal estate tax regulations governing the valuation of securities for federal estate tax purposes.(d) SPECIAL APPRAISERS. The personal representative must select qualified special appraisers to appraise a decedent's interests in joint ventures, partnerships, business enterprises, cooperative apartments, coins and stamps and any other assets as to which the Register of Wills has informed the personal representative that the standing appraisers do not ordinarily appraise. In addition, the court may approve the use of qualified special appraisers to appraise any other assets that the standing appraisers do not ordinarily appraise, for which they cannot provide an expeditious appraisal or for other good cause shown.(e) INVENTORY FORM. The inventory must be typed or electronically printed on the form maintained by the Register of Wills or a form that is substantially similar in content and format to that form. The inventory must comply with the general Probate Division rule governing privacy requirements and must be accompanied by the form for reporting complete account numbers required by that rule.(f) NOTICE OF FILING. The notice prescribed by D.C. Code § 20-711(b) (1981), which may be mailed or delivered to all interested persons in lieu of a copy of the inventory, must be on the form maintained by the Register of Wills or a form that is substantially similar in content and format to that form.Sup. Ct. R. D.C. app B R. R. B-7
Adopted by Order dated March 4, 2022, effective 8/22/2022.