District of Columbia Laws

Are Autopsy Reports Public in District of Columbia? (2026)

District of Columbia autopsy reports are restricted, not open to the public. Learn who can request an OCME autopsy or toxicology report, the fee, and how.

Bankruptcy in DC (2026): Exemptions & Means Test

DC bankruptcy guide: choose state or federal exemptions, an unlimited homestead under D.C. Code 15-501(a)(14), the 522(p) cap, plus 2026 means-test income.

Common Law Marriage in the District of Columbia: Is It Recognized? (2026)

The District of Columbia recognizes common law marriage. DC requires a present-tense mutual agreement to be spouses plus cohabitation, proved by clear and convincing evidence. No minimum years required.

D.C. Child Support Laws (2026): Guidelines & Calculator

District of Columbia child support uses the Income Shares Model under D.C. Code § 16-916.01. Learn how D.C. calculates support, enforcement tools, and when orders end.

D.C. Smart Glasses Recording Laws: One-Party Consent Guide

Washington, D.C. is a one-party consent jurisdiction. Learn when you can legally record audio and video with smart glasses under D.C. Code § 23-542 and § 22-3531.

DC Defamation Laws: Libel, Slander & Suing (2026)

DC defamation laws explained: a strict 1-year deadline (DC Code 12-301), the DC anti-SLAPP Act, defamation per se, and how to sue for libel or slander.

DC Employee Monitoring Laws: Notice, GPS, and Privacy Rules (2026)

District of Columbia employee monitoring laws explained: why DC has no notice statute, one-party consent recording, the voyeurism law, and biometric data breach duties.

DC Police Body Camera Laws: Rules & Public Access (2026)

DC's Metropolitan Police Department has operated body cameras since 2014 under D.C. Code § 5-116.33. Learn the activation, retention, and public-access rules.

DC Squatters Rights: Washington D.C. Adverse Possession Laws (2026)

Washington D.C. squatters rights require 15 years of continuous adverse possession under D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(1). Learn how to remove a squatter and quiet title in the District of Columbia.

District of Columbia AI Laws and Regulation (2026)

Guide to Washington D.C. AI laws, regulation, and legislation covering deepfakes, employment AI, healthcare AI, and more.

District of Columbia AI Meeting Recording Laws (2026)

Learn how DC consent laws apply to AI meeting recorders. One-party consent rules, penalties up to 5 years and $12,500.

District of Columbia At-Will Employment Laws: Exceptions and Your Rights

Is DC an at-will employment jurisdiction? Yes. Learn DC's public-policy and implied-contract exceptions, union rules, and your federal rights if fired.

District of Columbia Audio Recording Laws: Complete Legal Guide

Learn D.C. audio recording laws under D.C. Code 23-542. One-party consent rules, penalties up to 5 years and $12,500, and what you need to know before recording.

District of Columbia Biometric Privacy Laws: Collection, Consent & Penalties (2026)

DC protects biometric data through its breach notification law (DC Code 28-3851). Learn what triggers notification, penalties, and how DC compares to states with stronger biometric laws.

District of Columbia Car Accident Laws: Fault, Insurance, and Your Claim

DC is an at-fault state with optional PIP add-on and pure contributory negligence. Learn DC's 25/50/10 minimums, 3-year SOL, 60-day PIP election, and your rights after a crash.

District of Columbia Child Custody Laws (2026): Types, Best Interests, and Your Rights

DC child custody law explained: the rebuttable joint-custody presumption under D.C. Code 16-914, 17 best-interests factors, modification, and relocation rules.

District of Columbia Data Breach Notification Laws: Reporting Rules & Timelines (2026)

DC requires breach notification without unreasonable delay and AG notice when 50+ residents are affected. Learn about the private right of action, 18-month identity theft protection, and penalties.

District of Columbia Data Privacy Laws: Breach Rules & Consumer Rights (2026)

DC has no comprehensive privacy law yet. D.C. Code §§ 28-3851 to 28-3853 require breach notification; the AG enforces via CPPA. Federal overlay includes the TAKE IT DOWN Act (FTC enforcement live May 2026).

District of Columbia Death Records: Are They Public?

District of Columbia is a closed-record jurisdiction: certified death certificates go only to family and legal representatives until records open to the public 75 years after death.

District of Columbia Deepfake Laws: AI Images, Voice Cloning & Penalties (2026)

DC has no explicit deepfake law yet. D.C. Code s. 22-3052 covers NCII but omits AI; B26-0524 (pending) would fix that. The federal TAKE IT DOWN Act fills the adult intimate-deepfake gap.

District of Columbia Divorce Laws (2026): Grounds, Residency, and Process

DC divorce law since Jan 2024: no separation required, no-fault only, 6-month residency. File in DC Superior Court Family Court. Equitable distribution.

District of Columbia E-Scooter Laws: Sidewalk, Helmet & Age Rules (2026)

DC e-scooter laws under DC Code section 50-2201.02: why a standard Bird or Lime scooter is legally an 'electric mobility device,' not a 'personal mobility device,' with a minimum age of 16.

District of Columbia Expungement and Record Sealing Laws (2025)

Learn how to seal or expunge your criminal record in the District of Columbia. Covers D.C. Code § 16-801 et seq., waiting periods, automatic sealing under the Second Chance Amendment Act, and marijuana expungement.

District of Columbia FOIA: Deadlines, Bodycam Rules, and Mayoral Appeals

D.C. FOIA explained: any person may request, 15 days for records and 25 days for body-worn camera footage, tiered fees, and an optional appeal to the Mayor.

District of Columbia Hit and Run Laws: Penalties & Guide

DC hit and run laws under D.C. Code 50-2201.05c: leaving after colliding carries up to 30 days for property damage and up to 180 days when a person is injured.

District of Columbia Landlord-Tenant Laws (2026): Deposits, Notice, and Tenant Rights

DC security deposit capped at 1 month (interest-bearing), 45-day return, 48-hour entry notice, 5% late-fee cap, and active rent control at 4.8% for 2025.

District of Columbia Laws on Recording in Public: Complete Legal Guide

D.C. public recording laws protect your right to film on streets, the National Mall, and at protests. Learn First Amendment rights, permit rules, and drone restrictions.

District of Columbia Laws on Recording Police: Your Rights and Limits

Learn your right to record police in D.C. First Amendment protections, MPD body camera rules, federal building limits, and what to do if officers tell you to stop.

District of Columbia Marriage & Divorce Records: Court Records Only

DC Health has no role in marriage or divorce records. The Superior Court Marriage Bureau issues certified copies at $10 each, divorce included.

District of Columbia Phone Call Recording Laws: Consent Rules and Interstate Calls

D.C. phone call recording laws follow one-party consent under D.C. Code 23-542. Learn rules for interstate calls to Maryland, business recording, and penalties.

District of Columbia Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)

DC probate explained: the Superior Court Probate Division, intestate succession under §19-302, the $80,000 small estate threshold, and DC's estate tax.

District of Columbia Property Records: How to Find Out Who Owns a Property (2026)

DC has no counties, just one Recorder of Deeds inside the tax office. Learn how to search DC property records, deed fees, and PropertyQuest.

District of Columbia Restraining Order Laws (2026): How to Get a Civil Protection Order

How to get a Civil Protection Order (CPO) in DC: who qualifies, how long it lasts (up to 2 years), filing process, firearms rules, and violation penalties.

District of Columbia Security Camera Laws: Installation Rules and Privacy Limits

D.C. security camera laws for homes, businesses, and public spaces. Learn about the Private Security Camera Rebate Program, audio capture rules, and placement limits.

District of Columbia Slip and Fall Laws: Proving Premises Liability in DC

DC slip and fall law: pure contributory negligence bars any recovery if you share 1% fault. 3-year SOL, 6-month gov notice, natural-accumulation ice/snow rule explained.

District of Columbia Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)

District of Columbia surveillance camera laws: home security, workplace cameras, neighbor disputes, audio recording rules.

District of Columbia Trade Secret Laws: UTSA, Remedies & Deadlines

DC trade secret law (D.C. Code §§ 36-401 to 36-410, 1988 UTSA): two-part test, 3-year limitations, exemplary damages, and federal DTSA overlay explained.

District of Columbia Unclaimed Property: How to Search & Claim Your Money (2026)

Find out if DC is holding unclaimed money for you. Free official search, notarized claim process, dormancy rules, and scam warnings explained.

District of Columbia Video Recording Laws: What You Need to Know

Understand D.C. video recording laws covering public filming, private property, surveillance cameras, and voyeurism penalties under D.C. Code 22-3531.

District of Columbia Voyeurism Laws: Hidden Camera Penalties and Privacy Rights

D.C. voyeurism laws under D.C. Code 22-3531 make hidden cameras in private spaces a misdemeanor. Learn penalties, defenses, and nonconsensual pornography rules.

District of Columbia Warrant Search: How to Check If You Have a Warrant (2026)

Learn how to run a DC warrant search using Superior Court's free eAccess and Active Warrant List tools, and what to do if you have a warrant.

District of Columbia Window Tint Laws (2026): Legal VLT Limits

DC window tint laws: standard vehicles require 70% VLT on front side windows and 50% on back/rear. Minivans allow 55% front and 35% back/rear. Penalties up to $5,000.

District of Columbia Workers' Compensation Laws: Benefits, Deadlines, and Your Rights

DC workers' comp requires 1+ employee coverage. Learn the 1-year claim deadline, 66 2/3% wage rate, free doctor choice, and how DOES administers benefits.

District of Columbia Workplace Recording Laws: Employee and Employer Rights

D.C. workplace recording laws allow employees to record conversations they participate in. Learn employer camera rules, NLRA protections, and legal limits.

District of Columbia Wrongful Death Laws (2026)

DC wrongful death law: the 2-year deadline, the personal representative who files, the pecuniary-loss rule (no grief), the Survival Act, and contributory fault.

How to Find a Cause of Death in District of Columbia (2026)

How to find someone's cause of death in District of Columbia: it sits on the certified death certificate and OCME records, released only to eligible parties.

How to Get a District of Columbia Death Certificate (2026)

Get a District of Columbia death certificate from DC Health Vital Records for $18 per copy. Certified copies go to eligible family. Order online, by mail, phone, or in person.

Medical Malpractice Laws in Washington DC (2026): Deadlines

DC medical malpractice law in 2026: a 3-year deadline, no damage cap, a 90-day pre-suit notice (D.C. Code 16-2802), and the contributory negligence rule.

Motorcycle Accident Laws in Washington DC (2026): Helmets

DC motorcycle accident law: the 3-year deadline to sue, contributory negligence and the motorcyclist vulnerable-user carve-out, universal helmet law, and PIP.

Truck Accident Laws in Washington, D.C. (2026): Deadlines & Liability

Washington, D.C. gives 3 years to file a truck-injury claim, 2 for wrongful death. It follows pure contributory negligence with an elective no-fault PIP option.

Washington DC Drone Laws (2026): Rules & Restrictions

Washington DC sits in a federal no-fly zone and has no drone-specific privacy statute. See how DC's flight restrictions and general laws apply.

Washington DC DUI Laws: Penalties, BAC & License (2026)

Washington DC DUI laws: the 0.08% BAC limit, first-offense penalties under DC Code 50-2206.11, the 6-month revocation, and mandatory ignition interlock.

Washington DC Power of Attorney Laws: Durable, Medical, and Financial POA (2026)

Learn how Washington DC power of attorney laws work in 2026. Covers the 2023 Uniform Power of Attorney Act (D.C. Code 21-2601 et seq.), durable by default, notarization requirement, hot powers, and the separate health-care POA under D.C. Code 21-2201 et seq.

Washington DC Social Security Disability: Rates & Waits

Social Security disability in Washington DC: no state SSI supplement for independent living, automatic Medicaid on SSI approval, approval odds, and wait times.

Washington, D.C. Alimony Laws: How Spousal Support Works (2026)

Washington, D.C. Emancipation Laws: How Minors Become Emancipated (2026)

Washington, D.C. has no general emancipation statute. Learn how DC minors can become legally emancipated through marriage, military service, or common-law self-support, and what rights follow.

Washington, D.C. Self-Defense Laws: Stand Your Ground & Castle Doctrine (2026)

Washington D.C. is not a stand your ground state. DC uses a Gillis middle-ground rule: no absolute duty to retreat, but the jury may weigh failure to retreat when assessing reasonable belief. No SYG statute, no civil immunity.