District of Columbia: Civil Procedure, Foreclosure & UCC

Civil procedure in District of Columbia

Civil cases in District of Columbia state courts follow the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure. Federal courts located in District of Columbia follow the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and their own local rules. Individual District of Columbia courts also publish local rules, and judges may issue standing orders — read all of them before filing.

Our procedure library explains each federal motion and filing; look up the District of Columbia equivalent in the state rules, because names, deadlines and forms can differ.

Foreclosure in District of Columbia

The most common foreclosure process in District of Columbia is nonjudicial: property can be sold under a power-of-sale clause following the state statute, without a lawsuit. Judicial foreclosure is also available. The main statute: D.C. Code § 42-815 et seq..

Federal mortgage servicing rules also apply to most residential loans — see federal pre-foreclosure protections. Read the current statute for notice periods, redemption rights and deficiency rules.

The Uniform Commercial Code in District of Columbia

District of Columbia enacted the Uniform Commercial Code and codified it in D.C. Code Title 28, Subtitle I (Uniform Commercial Code). When a page on Lawtopolis cites a UCC section such as § 3-301 or § 9-406, read the matching section of District of Columbia’s enacted code, which may contain state-specific changes.

Research checklist

• Read the current state rules of civil procedure and the local rules of your court.
• Check the state judiciary’s self-help center and official forms.
• Read the state statutes that govern your type of case.
• Find binding decisions from the state’s appellate courts.
• Confirm each source is current before relying on it.

How to research a case in this state

First, find the statute or rule that governs your issue where you live. State law controls most of these questions, so the answer can change from one state to the next. Next, read recent decisions from the appellate courts in your state. They show how judges apply the law today. Also, check the local rules of the court that would hear your case. Our state procedures guide links to each state’s official rules. In addition, the Research Center explains how to confirm a source is still good law.