Probate and guardianship jurisdiction

§ 11–522. Probate and guardianship jurisdiction (a) The United States District Court for the District of Columbia has and may exercise all the power and jurisdiction by law held and exercised by the Orphans’ Court of Washington County, District of Columbia, prior to June 21, 1870. (b) In addition to the jurisdiction conferred by subsection (a) of this section, the District Court has full power and authority and plenary jurisdiction to: (1) hear and determine questions relating to the execution or validity of wills devising real property within the District of Columbia, and of wills and testaments properly presented for probate in the court, and admit them to probate and record; (2) take the proof of wills of either personal or real property and admit them to probate and record, and for cause revoke the probate thereof; (3) grant, and, for any of the causes prescribed by law, revoke, letters testamentary, letters of administration, letters ad colligendum, and letters of guardianship, and appoint successors to those persons whose letters are revoked; (4) hear, examine, and decree upon accounts, claims, and demands existing between executors or administrators 77 Stat. 483and legatees, or persons entitled to a distributive share of an intestate estate, or between wards and their guardians; (5) enforce the rendition of inventories and accounts by executors, administrators, collectors, guardians, and trustees required to account to the court; and (6) enforce the distribution of estates by executors and administrators, and the payment or delivery by guardians of money or property belonging to their wards. (c) Neither the execution nor the validity of a will or testament admitted to probate and record in the court may be impeached or examined collaterally. Subject to other provisions of this Part or other provisions of law, it is res judicata in all respects and to all persons. (d) In exercising its powers and jurisdiction under this section, the District Court is known as the Probate Court. (e) This section does not affect the jurisdiction conferred upon the Juvenile Court of the District of Columbia by section 11–1551 (a)(3) .