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District of Columbia Official Code
Navigating Within the District of Columbia Official Code Site
Searching District of Columbia Official Code
Browsing Documents
Charges for Accessing Cited Documents 		Using the Update Feature
Retrieving Documents with Westlaw by Credit Card
Other District of Columbia Legal Products
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Navigating Within the District of Columbia Official Code Site

The District of Columbia Official Code site includes selected sections of the unannotated District of Columbia code. The content included at this site is listed on the District of Columbia Official Code home page. Just select a link to view a list of relevant documents.

You can also search for statutes related to your issue.

Click Home at the top of any page to return to the District of Columbia Official Code home page at any time. To go to the Council of the District of Columbia site, click D.C. Council Home.


Searching District of Columbia Official Code

You can search for District of Columbia statutes using the Natural Language search method. Natural Language allows you to retrieve relevant documents by typing a description in plain English. To search using Natural Language, complete the following steps:

  1. Click Search at the top of any page. The Search page is displayed.

  2. Type a description of the statute in the Natural Language Description text box. For example, to retrieve rules pertaining to requirements for service of process, type the following description:

    what are the requirements for service of process

    You can also search for a specific statute or regulation number. For example, if you have a citation to D.C. Code § 13-331, type the following:

    code 13-331

  3. Click Search next to the Natural Language Description text box to run your search.

Browsing Documents
Citations List
When you are viewing a search result, the citations list is shown first. Click the number preceding a citation to view that document's full text.

To see the next 20 documents that match the concepts in your description, click the right arrow at the bottom of the citations list.

Browsing by Search Terms
In a search result, you can click the right or left Term arrow to move to the next or previous occurrence of your search terms in the displayed document.

Browsing by Document
In a search result, you can click the right or left Document arrow to move to the next or previous document in your search result.

Documents in Sequence
You can use Documents in Sequence to view consecutive documents even if they were not retrieved by your search.

For example, if you retrieve D.C. Code § 13-331, click Docs in Sequence to view D.C. Code § 13-332. Click the Prev and Next arrows located at the bottom of the document to view other consecutive documents. To cancel Documents in Sequence and return to the document you were viewing, click Cancel Docs in Sequence.

Currentness Information
A current-through line tells you how current the document is. For District of Columbia Official Code, the current-through line will appear at the end of the document.

Some documents will also include a reference to Scope, which is a Westlaw feature that provides information about coverage. Scope is not available on this site; the current through line provides the coverage information.

Updates to a Statute
An Update link is displayed when court orders that amend or repeal your statute are available. Click Update to view the court order. (You are not charged for viewing these court orders.)

Cited Documents
Links are available for some cited documents that are outside the scope of the District of Columbia Official Code site. You can retrieve these cited documents for a fee via Westlaw by credit card. When you click the link for a cited document, you will be redirected to the Westlaw by credit card site. From there, you may use a Westlaw or Westlaw by credit card subscription to retrieve the document. Click your browser's Back button to return to the District of Columbia Official Code site.

Using the Update Feature

An Update link is displayed at the top of a retrieved document when court orders that amend or repeal your statute are available. Click Update to view the court order. (You will not be charged for viewing these updates.)

After viewing the court order, you can click your browser's Back button to return to the document you were viewing.


Charges for Accessing Cited Documents

You are not charged for viewing any of the unannotated District of Columbia statutes included at this site.

You will be charged for retrieving cited documents not included at this site, such as sections of the United States Code Annotated®.


Retrieving Documents with Westlaw by Credit Card

If you do not have a Westlaw subscription, you can retrieve cited documents and pay for them via credit card using Westlaw by credit card. Westlaw by credit card is a document retrieval service of West. Westlaw by credit card provides anyone with an Internet connection and a credit card or Westlaw subscription instant access to the extensive array of state and federal case law and statutes on Westlaw.

Refer to the Westlaw by credit card site at creditcard.westlaw.com for more details about Westlaw by credit card charges.


Other District of Columbia Products

West's District of Columbia Official Code, 2001 ed. can be purchased at the West Online Store. Information on other District of Columbia legal products is available as well.


Enabling Cookies

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