The DC Superior Court rules follow the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure as a baseline, but the court adopts its own modified versions under D.C. Code 11-946, and those local variations control how you file, respond, and move a case through the system.1D.C. Law Library. District of Columbia Code 11-946 – Rules of Court If you have practiced in federal court, much will look familiar. The differences, though, are where cases get dismissed, defaulted, or kicked back at the clerk’s window.
Find the Right Division First
Before any rule applies, your case has to land in the correct division, because each one has its own supplemental rules, forms, and timelines.2District of Columbia Courts. Superior Court Divisions
- Civil Division for lawsuits between private parties.
- Criminal Division for D.C. offenses.
- Family Court Operations Division for divorce, custody, child support, adoption, juvenile delinquency, and abuse and neglect.
- Domestic Violence Division for civil protection orders, anti-stalking orders, and extreme risk protection orders.
- Tax Division for challenges to D.C. tax assessments.
- Probate Division for estates, wills, and guardianship.
Two branches sit inside the Civil Division and have their own procedures: the Landlord and Tenant Branch handles eviction and possession cases, and the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch has exclusive jurisdiction over money-only disputes of $10,000 or less, not counting interest, attorney fees, or court costs.3D.C. Law Library. District of Columbia Code 11-1321 – Exclusive Jurisdiction of Small Claims If your money claim tops $10,000, it belongs in the Civil Division proper, where the rules are longer and the costs higher.
Filing a New Case
Every new civil case needs the full legal names and current addresses of every party, plus a Civil Actions Branch Information Sheet (Form CV-496). The information sheet categorizes the lawsuit for the court’s administrative tracking and asks for a concise description of the claim and the relief sought, whether that is a dollar figure or a court order.4District of Columbia Courts. Civil Actions Branch Information Sheet Be precise about the damages, because the amount drives where the case lands. Blank or wrong fields get filings sent back for corrections and cost you days.
eFileDC and Filing Fees
Electronic filing runs through eFileDC, which replaced CaseFileXpress in October 2022.5District of Columbia Courts. File Online (eFiling) E-filing is mandatory in most Civil Actions Branch, Criminal Division, Domestic Violence Division, Probate, and Tax Division cases. Attorneys must e-file unless a court order specifically excludes them. Self-represented litigants may use eFileDC but are not required to, and can still file in person at the Clerk’s Office.6District of Columbia Bar. Superior Court Issues Order on Mandatory E-Filing
Upload documents as searchable PDFs. A new civil action in the Civil Division carries a $120 filing fee; Small Claims and Landlord and Tenant Branch fees are lower.7District of Columbia Courts. Superior Court Civil Rule 202 – Fees The system returns a stamped confirmation, and the assigned case number must appear on everything you file after that.
Fee Waivers
If you cannot afford the fees, D.C. Code 15-712 lets you apply for a waiver on the “Application to Waive Court Costs and Fees” form, available at the Clerk’s Office and on the court website. The court must grant a full waiver if your monthly income does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or if you are represented by a legal services organization that serves low-income clients. Outside those categories, a full or partial waiver is still possible if you can show substantial hardship.8D.C. Law Library. District of Columbia Code 15-712 – Waiving Court Fees and Costs
Service of Process Under Rule 4
A lawsuit does not officially start until the defendant receives proper notice. The plaintiff must serve a copy of the summons and complaint along with the court’s Initial Order setting the first scheduling conference. On an individual, service can happen three ways: hand delivery to the person, leaving the papers at the person’s home with someone of suitable age living there, or delivery to an authorized agent. If none of those work, the court can authorize an alternative method, but the plaintiff carries the burden of getting service done within the time the rule allows.9District of Columbia Courts. Superior Court Civil Rule 4 – Summons Botched service is one of the fastest ways to get a case dismissed before anything else happens.
Responding to a Complaint and Default
You have 21 days to file an answer or other responsive pleading after being served. The United States, the District of Columbia, and their officers sued in an official capacity get 60 days.10District of Columbia Courts. Superior Court Civil Rule 12 – Defenses and Objections Miss that window, and the plaintiff can move for default.
Under Rule 55, the clerk enters default when a defendant fails to respond. If the claim is for a specific dollar amount and the complaint was verified at least 21 days before the request, the clerk can enter judgment directly. Otherwise, the plaintiff has to ask a judge, and the court may hold a hearing to fix damages. Either way, the request must come within 60 days after the default is entered, and any individual defendant requires a Servicemembers Civil Relief Act affidavit confirming they are not on active military duty.11District of Columbia Courts. Superior Court Civil Rule 55 – Default; Default Judgment
Counting Days and Signing Filings
Rule 6 governs deadlines. Exclude the day of the triggering event, count every calendar day after that, and if the last day falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.12District of Columbia Courts. Superior Court Civil Rule 6 – Computing and Extending Time; Time for Motion Papers Miscount by a day and the filing gets refused.
Rule 11 requires every pleading, motion, or paper to be signed by an attorney of record or by a self-represented party personally. The signature is a certification that the filing has a legitimate legal basis, is supported by existing evidence or by evidence likely to be found after reasonable investigation, and is not being filed to harass or delay. Judges enforce it. Sanctions can include orders to pay the other side’s attorney fees or penalties paid directly to the court.13District of Columbia Courts. Superior Court Rule 11 – Signing of Pleadings, Motions, and Other Papers; Representations to the Court; Sanctions
The Scheduling Order and Discovery
Once a civil case is filed, the court holds an initial scheduling and settlement conference as soon as practicable. The judge explores early settlement or mediation, places the case on a time track, and issues a scheduling order that sets deadlines for discovery, witness lists, expert reports, motions, and trial.14District of Columbia Courts. Superior Court Civil Rule 16 – Pretrial Conferences; Scheduling; Management That order controls the case from then on, and modifying it usually requires good cause.
Discovery works differently here than in federal court. DC’s Rule 26 does not require automatic initial disclosures in every case. Instead, the judge orders disclosure exchanges at the initial hearing and sets the scope and sequence of what must be shared. When ordered, parties provide witness names and contact information, copies of exhibits, and relevant financial information on court-provided forms. The judge also sets a firm discovery cutoff; after it, more documents or depositions generally require permission.
Pretrial preparation runs on a rigid countdown. The trial attorneys must meet in person no less than five weeks before the pretrial conference to prepare a joint pretrial statement. Four weeks out, parties file any motions about how the trial should be conducted. One week before the conference, the joint pretrial statement goes to the court covering proposed jury questions, stipulated facts, and the rest of the trial roadmap. Judges have little patience for parties who arrive unprepared.
Rules That Only Apply in Certain Branches
Landlord and Tenant Branch
Eviction cases operate on their own rulebook. A landlord starts a case by filing a verified complaint on a specific court form matched to the dispute type: nonpayment of rent, lease violation, or commercial property. The complaint must be sworn under oath before a notary, not merely signed. An unsworn complaint can stall the entire case.15District of Columbia Courts. Superior Court Rules of Procedure for the Landlord and Tenant Branch
Timelines move faster. Every case is set for an initial hearing on the summons date, and summary judgment motions can be scheduled as soon as 10 calendar days after filing. A tenant demanding a jury trial has to file the demand by the appearance date shown on the summons, along with the jury fee and a verified answer laying out the defense. Corporate defendants can appear without counsel, but a corporate plaintiff must be represented by a D.C. Bar member.
Small Claims and Conciliation Branch
The Small Claims Branch has exclusive jurisdiction over money-only lawsuits of $10,000 or less. Its rules are shorter, the forms are more straightforward, and the process is built so people without attorneys can navigate it. Anything above the $10,000 cap has to be filed in the Civil Division instead.
Privacy Protection and Sealing
Court filings become part of the public record. Rule 5.2 requires filers to redact Social Security numbers, taxpayer identification numbers, and all but the last four digits of financial account numbers from every document. Where a Social Security number would normally appear, insert the acronym “SS#” instead.16District of Columbia Courts. Superior Court Rule 5.2 – Privacy Protection for Filings Made with the Court Note one difference from federal practice: the domestic relations version of the rule does not require redaction of birth dates or minor children’s names, because that information is routinely needed in family cases. The clerk’s office does not review filings for compliance. The redaction burden is entirely on you.
Sealing is available but narrow. Juvenile case records are already confidential by statute and cannot be inspected without authorization.17D.C. Law Library. District of Columbia Code 16-2331 – Juvenile Case Records; Confidentiality; Inspection and Disclosure For criminal records, D.C. Code 16-806 lets a person file a motion to seal, and the court applies an “interests of justice” test that weighs the individual’s interest against community interests in public safety and rehabilitation. Judges consider the nature of the offense, time passed, the person’s conduct since, and the prosecutor’s position. A granted order must be issued in writing with reasons and is treated as a final order for appeal.18D.C. Law Library. District of Columbia Code 16-806 – Sealing of Criminal Records by Motion In civil cases, a party can move to seal specific documents by showing concrete, specific harm that outweighs the presumption of public access. Vague embarrassment will not clear the bar.