District of Columbia Laws
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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.
Are Brass Knuckles Legal in Washington, D.C.? (2026 Law)
D.C. bans possessing knuckles of metal, wood or plastic under D.C. Code 22-4514. A first offense carries up to 1 year; carrying them in public, up to 5 years.
Are Magic Mushrooms Legal in DC? Psilocybin Laws (2026)
Psilocybin is Schedule I in D.C. and possession is a misdemeanor. Initiative 81 makes adult non-commercial use a low police priority, but the law still applies.
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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.
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Common Law Marriage in Washington, DC: Is It Legal? (2027)
Washington, DC recognizes common law marriage through case law: an express present-tense agreement to be married, then living together as spouses.
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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. Disorderly Conduct and Unlawful Entry Laws (2026)
Disorderly conduct in D.C. (Code 22-1321) carries up to 90 days and a $500 fine. Unlawful entry (22-3302) has no degrees: up to 180 days or 6 months.
D.C. Embezzlement and Forgery Laws: Theft Penalties (2026)
D.C. folds embezzlement into theft (D.C. Code 22-3211): up to 10 years at $1,000 or more, 180 days below. Forgery carries up to 10, 5 or 3 years.
D.C. Guardianship Laws: Adults, Minors and Standby Guardians (2026)
How D.C. guardianship works: clear and convincing proof, a lawyer in every adult case, court reviews, custodial powers of attorney and standby guardians.
D.C. Homestead Deduction: 2026 Amount, Deadline and How to Apply
The D.C. Homestead Deduction cuts $91,950 off assessed value for tax year 2026. Learn who is eligible, how to file ASD-100, the 10% cap and senior relief.
D.C. Knife Laws (2026): Possession and Carry Rules
D.C. bans switchblade possession outright; other knives are reached by an intent-based ban and a carrying statute the code never defines for knives.
D.C. License Plate Reader (ALPR) Laws (2026)
D.C. ALPR rules explained: what D.C. Code 50-2443 does, the temporary Law 26-120, MPD's 90-day General Order, public records, and local Flock records.
D.C. Non-Compete Laws (2026): Are Non-Competes Enforceable?
D.C. bans non-competes for workers earning under $162,164 in 2026 ($270,274 for medical specialists). See the rules, 365-day limit and penalties.
D.C. Reckless Driving Laws: Penalties, Points and Speed (2026)
D.C. reckless driving (Code 50-2201.04) starts at 20 mph over the limit and carries up to 90 days in jail. See the aggravated tiers, points and license rules.
D.C. Scam and Fraud Laws: Where to Report, Your Right to Sue (2026)
D.C. consumers can sue a merchant under the CPPA for treble damages or $1,500 per violation. Where to report a scam in D.C., elder protections and small claims.
D.C. Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
D.C. small claims cases are capped at $10,000 under D.C. Code 11-1321. Learn the filing fees, the business lawyer rule, service, the 3-day appeal and collection.
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.
D.C. Theft Laws: $1,000 First-Degree Line, Penalties and Shoplifting
D.C. theft of $1,000 or more is first-degree theft with up to 10 years. See second-degree theft, repeat-offender rules, shoplifting and merchant civil recovery.
D.C. Will and Trust Laws: Witnesses, Electronic Wills (2026)
A D.C. paper will needs two credible witnesses, and a gift to a witness is void beyond the intestate share. Electronic wills have been allowed since 2023.
D.C. Workplace Harassment Laws: No Severe or Pervasive Test (2026)
D.C. law bars workplace harassment by employers of any size, and conduct need not be severe or pervasive. File with OHR within 1 year or sue within 2 years.
DC Adoption Records: The Court Petition Required to Unseal a Birth Certificate
In DC, an original birth certificate stays sealed unless a court orders it released. Here is the petition process and which court has jurisdiction.
DC Annulment Laws: Grounds, Residency and How to File (2026)
District of Columbia annulment under D.C. Code § 16-903: void and voidable marriages, the age-18 rule, residency, property, support and when the decree is final.
DC Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Fines & Points
DC requires rear-facing seats to age 2 and restraint/booster seats to age 8, per D.C. Code 50-1703. See the 2026 $75-$150 fine ladder, points, and citations.
DC Court Records: How to Use eAccess, and DC's Two Separate Relief Tracks
DC's eAccess updates within minutes but needs the exact case number format. Learn its quirks, PACER for federal cases, and DC's sealing vs expungement law.
DC Debt Collection Laws: Wage Garnishment, Statute of Limitations, and Repossession
DC debt collection laws explained: the most protective wage garnishment formula in the country, hardship exemptions, debt SOL, and repossession rules.
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 Final Paycheck Laws: Deadlines, Treble Damages, and Wage Claims
DC final paycheck law: fired employees are owed wages the next working day, quitting employees within 7 days or the next payday, whichever is earlier.
DC Fireworks Laws: Permitted List, Licensing, Penalties
DC only allows a narrow list of fireworks like sparklers under 20 inches. Selling requires two permits and a bond; violations carry up to $2,000 and 90 days in jail.
DC Grandparents' Rights: Visitation Under the Third-Party Custody Act
DC has no separate grandparent visitation statute. Visitation runs through the Third-Party Custody Act. How standing, the presumption, and procedure work.
DC Manslaughter Laws: Voluntary, Involuntary and Negligent Homicide
Manslaughter in Washington, DC carries up to 30 years under D.C. Code 22-2105. See the common-law forms, negligent homicide by vehicle and the panic-defense ban.
DC Name Change Laws: The $60 Process and No Publication Since 2013
How to legally change your name in DC Superior Court, the flat $60 fee, no newspaper notice since 2013, and how minors and divorce fit in.
DC Noise Laws: Quiet Hours, Decibel Limits and Penalties
DC noise rules set nighttime at 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and cap residential noise at 55 dB(A) at night; violations bring criminal or civil fines that rise for repeat offenses.
DC Nursing Home Camera Laws (2026): No Statute Found
The District of Columbia has no law addressing cameras in nursing home rooms. A direct text search of its nursing facility regulations found zero mentions of monitoring or video.
DC Open Container Law (2026): D.C. Code § 25-1001 Explained
DC has no dedicated vehicle open-container law; D.C. Code § 25-1001 bans drinking in cars on public streets instead. Penalties and exemptions explained.
DC Pepper Spray and Stun Gun Laws (2026)
DC allows a self-defense spray only in the formula its code defines, and a stun gun for anyone 18 or older under its own rules, with place limits and real penalties.
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 Prenuptial Agreement Laws: Requirements and Enforceability (2026)
Prenups in the District of Columbia under D.C. Code §§ 46-501 to 46-510: signing rules, the § 46-506 defenses, support waivers, domestic partners and postnups.
DC Self-Driving Car Laws: Testing Only, Robotaxi Bill (2026)
D.C. allows self-driving cars only for testing, with an operator aboard. What D.C. Code 50-2351 et seq. requires, $5M coverage, crashes and bill B26-0684.
DC Small Estate Affidavit: $40,000 Limit and the $80,000 Court Route
DC's small estate affidavit covers probate estates of $40,000 or less with no real estate, 60 days after death. Estates up to $80,000 can go to court.
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.
DC Unemployment Benefits 2026: $444 Max, 26 Weeks, How to File
DC pays up to $444 a week for 26 weeks. See who is eligible, how benefits are calculated, the waiting week, work search rules, how to file and how to appeal.
District of Columbia Age of Consent Laws: Statutes and Reporting
How District of Columbia criminal law protects minors by age, with offense tiers, authority and school-student offenses, penalties, registration and reporting.
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 Assault Laws: Simple vs Aggravated Assault
D.C. Code 22-404 punishes assault and menacing threats with up to 180 days, or 3 years with significant bodily injury. See aggravated assault and more.
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 Birth Certificate: How to Order, Fees and Rules
DC Health's Vital Records Division issues DC birth certificates for a $23 fee plus a VitalChek charge on remote orders. See who can order, ID rules and amendments.
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 Easement and Eminent Domain Laws (2026)
D.C. prescriptive easements take 15 years of open, adverse use. Landlocked-lot rules, how the District condemns land, the 21-day answer deadline and fees.
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.