Women’s sports fans could soon have a bar of their own in Arlington.
Sarah White, a longtime local restaurateur and partner at Westover Taco, is in the process of buying out of the taqueria at 5849 Washington Blvd. After that?
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Last spring’s postseason results were the most successful ever in the same season for Arlington’s high-school varsity soccer teams.
Of those six public-school squads, three played in region-tournament championship matches — one winning a title — and all three advanced to Class 6 state tournaments.
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No matter your age, having a will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family. A properly prepared will ensures your wishes are carried out, helps reduce family disputes, and can make the estate administration process much smoother.
Unfortunately, many Virginians make avoidable mistakes that can create unnecessary stress and expense for their loved ones. Here are five of the most common.
1. Trying to Write a Will Without Legal Guidance
Online templates and DIY wills may seem like an easy way to save money, but they often create bigger problems later. Virginia law has specific requirements for a valid will, including proper signatures and witness requirements. Even small mistakes can leave a will open to challenges or delay the administration of an estate.
2. Forgetting to Update Your Will
A will shouldn’t be something you create once and forget. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or grandchild, buying a home, or losing a loved one can all affect your estate plan.
Reviewing your will every few years—or after a major life event—helps ensure it still reflects your wishes and keeps your loved ones protected.
3. Overlooking Federal Estate Tax Planning
Virginia no longer has a state estate tax, but federal estate taxes may still affect larger estates. As home values and investments continue to grow, more families may find themselves closer to the federal exemption than they expected.
Planning ahead can help minimize tax consequences and preserve more of your estate for your beneficiaries.
4. Not Planning for Minor Children
For parents, a will does more than distribute assets—it allows you to name a guardian for your minor children. Without that designation, a court may ultimately decide who will care for them.
Many families also choose to establish a trust so inherited assets can be managed responsibly until children reach an age or milestone they determine is appropriate.
5. Choosing the Wrong Executor—or Not Naming One at All
Your executor is responsible for carrying out your wishes, paying debts, and distributing your assets. Selecting someone who is organized, trustworthy, and capable of handling those responsibilities is just as important as deciding who inherits your property.
It’s also essential to clearly identify your beneficiaries. Vague language or outdated information can create confusion and, in some cases, disputes among family members.
Don’t Forget the Rest of Your Estate Plan
A will is only one part of a comprehensive estate plan. Depending on your circumstances, you may also benefit from:
- A revocable living trust
- A durable power of attorney
- An advance medical directive
- A transfer-on-death deed for your home
Together, these documents can help protect your finances, outline your healthcare wishes, and simplify matters for your family if you’re ever unable to make decisions yourself.
The Bottom Line
A well-prepared estate plan provides peace of mind for both you and your loved ones. By avoiding these common mistakes and keeping your documents up to date, you can help ensure your wishes are honored while reducing stress for your family in the future.
If it’s been several years since you’ve reviewed your will—or you’ve never created one—it may be time to speak with an experienced Virginia estate planning attorney about your options.
PJI Law, PLC: Estate Planning Attorneys in Fairfax, VA
At PJI Law, PLC, we work with clients across Fairfax and Northern Virginia to build estate plans that reflect their intentions and align with Virginia law. Our estate planning attorneys take the time to review your assets, beneficiary designations, business interests, and family structure so your plan works as intended.
Whether you’re creating your first will or revisiting an existing one, our team will help you avoid the mistakes that can undermine your entire estate plan.
Call (703) 865-6100 or contact us online to schedule your complimentary consultation today.
PJI Law, PLC
3900 Jermantown Rd, 2nd Floor
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
(703) 865-6100
https://pjilaw.com
National Landing is gearing up for another round of free cherry blossom-inspired events this spring.
Pink in the Park, the annual event series produced by the National Landing Business Improvement District in collaboration with Amazon and the National Cherry Blossom Festival, returns for its fourth year with programming running from March 21 through April 10.
At Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS), one of the region’s largest and most established human services nonprofits, we believe every child deserves to walk into the classroom on the first day of school feeling confident, prepared, and ready to learn. But for many local families, the excitement of a new school year is overshadowed by the financial stress of buying school supplies. By helping families meet this essential need, we can ease financial pressure and give students the tools they need to succeed from day one.
This summer, NVFS is bringing together individuals, businesses, and community partners from across Northern Virginia, to provide new backpacks and essential school supplies to more than 1,500 local students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
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EagleBank’s Ballston branch is relocating to a new space just one block away.
The branch at 4420 Fairfax Drive — currently slated for redevelopment as a 22-story residential building — is coordinating a move to nearby 901 N. Glebe Road this fall, Director of Banking Operations Joe Clarke told ARLnow.
Join us for the Little Lambs Academy Open House! Families with children ages 3 months to 12 years are invited to tour our classrooms, meet our caring staff, and learn about our educational programs. Discover our STEAM curriculum, Christian learning environment, language enrichment, music education, and other unique opportunities we offer. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to explore the facility while enjoying complimentary snacks and refreshments. We look forward to meeting your family and answering any questions about enrollment!
A D.C.-based bubble tea shop is now serving up colorful signature beverages in Crystal City.
Spot of Tea opened last week at 1631 Crystal Drive in Water Park, offering customizable fruit tea, milk tea and matcha. With flavors including vanilla taro milk tea, mango sticky rice matcha and passionfruit green tea, the cafe’s brightly hued beverages — adjustable by the level of ice and sweetness — match its vibrant decor.
Police are looking for a suspect in an unusual robbery in the Ft. Myer Heights neighborhood, near Rosslyn.
It happened just before 7 a.m. Monday on the 1500 block of N. Queen Street. According to Arlington County police, the victim was walking to his car when he found a man inside his other vehicle.
The Arlington School Board is poised to adopt more comprehensive conflict-of-interest rules, while also authorizing a hotline for staff to report suspected financial impropriety.
Assuming the pair of new policies is adopted at the March 26 School Board meeting, the new hotline for waste, fraud and abuse will be in operation “in the coming weeks,” said Steven Marku, the school system’s director of policy and legislative affairs, at a March 12 meeting.
Arlington’s treasurer is taking a more conservative stance on investments amid fears that local tax revenue could run short in the coming months.
“I have decided to make all of our investments fairly short-term,” Carla de la Pava told County Board members at a March 3 budget hearing. “Right now, it has been the wisest [action]. The safety of having liquid assets during this time of chaos has been really important.”
Local Co. Makes $200M Drone Deal — Crystal City-based AeroVironment has acquired California drone designer and manufacturer ESAero for $200 million in cash and stock, strengthening its capabilities in unmanned aerial systems increasingly used in global conflicts. The deal is AV’s second acquisition in less than a year. [WBJ]
AV Lasers on 60 Minutes — 60 Minutes featured AeroVironment and CEO Wahid Nawabi on a segment its Locust laser system, which destroys drones at a fraction of the cost of interceptor missiles. “The cost per shot goes from $4 million a shot to less than $5 a shot,” Nawabi said. The segment also revealed the Army is using the lasers to shoot down cartel drones along the Mexican border. [CBS News, 60 Minutes/X]
Sunrise at the Tomb — Arlington National Cemetery offered a rare sight Tuesday morning as the sunrise aligned perfectly with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, marking the tomb’s 100th anniversary year. [Fox 5]
Sister City Mayor Leads — Incumbent Arnaud Robinet led the first of two rounds of voting in the election for mayor in Arlington’s Sister City of Reims, France, held March 15. Robinet, leading a center-right coalition, won 44% of the vote to National Rally candidate Anne-Sophie Frigout (21%) and Eric Quénard (18%), who led a center-left coalition. All three advance to the final round of voting on March 22. — Scott McCaffrey
D.C. Self-Driving Update — “As self-driving taxis, like Waymo, continue to be tested on D.C. Streets, DDOT is restarting a study to potentially give the vehicles a green light.” [NBC 4]
It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly sunny weather with a high near 42 degrees and light, variable winds shifting to the south at 6 mph in the afternoon. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with a low of around 31 degrees. [NWS]
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Flickr pool photo by Tom Mockler
Join us on August 1 between 10 AM to 2 PM for a drop‑in event for the whole family! Explore our Dojo—the high‑tech, STEAM‑driven space where you can dive into activities like MakeCode Arcade, Roblox, Minecraft, robotics, 3D printing, drones, VR, and more. While you’re here, take advantage of our amazing enrollment specials, or simply enjoy a fun day of coding, meeting new friends, high fives, and plenty of Hi‑Yahs!