Sports

Two former high-school teammates for the Bishop O’Connell Knights squared off on the basketball court during a recent men’s college game.

In the semifinals of the Coastal Athletic Association tournament, Christian May was a starting junior guard/forward for the Towson Tigers and junior guard Cavan Reilly started for the Delaware Blue Hens, which won 82-72.


Sports

The Marymount University Saints made the best of a roster of just 11 during the winter swimming season.

After finishing 5-0 to win the regular-season title, the squad placed second in the Division III Atlantic East Conference postseason championships.


Sponsored

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


Sports

The top two scorers for the Bishop O’Connell Knights boys high-school basketball team this season earned all-state honors for their performances.

Junior guard and leading scorer Darius Bivins was a first-team Division I private-school selection in Virginia. Senior guard Shane Lincoln, the Knights’ No. 2 scorer, made the second team.


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Sports

Having had success a year ago in the inaugural event, the Washington-Liberty High School baseball team will host the second-annual Norwood Classic early in the 2025 season.

The tournament is named for former and legendary W-L head baseball coach Del Norwood. The late Norwood is a member of four Hall of Fames as a result of his success as the Generals’ head coach.


Sports

A pressbox with accompanying box seats, all located behind home plate, are new additions to the Bishop O’Connell High School baseball field for the 2025 spring season.

The new look was completed in recent weeks, prior to the Knights’ March 7 home opener against the Potomac School Panthers, a 6-3 O’Connell win.


Around Town

Good Friday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Mar 14, 2025.

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. Large public company arrives in Ballston, relocating headquarters from Maryland (26263 views)
  2. Obstructed views at ‘The Waterview’ leave Rosslyn homeowners threatening lawsuit (13706 views)
  3. Crash leaves SUV on its side in Clarendon (12914 views)
  4. Three arrested after early morning fight at Clarendon bar (11383 views)
  5. Arlington’s $8M funding bid for trail along Long Bridge Drive is rejected (9873 views)
  6. JUST IN: Gun theft suspect arrested at vacant home in Lyon Village after schools secured (9032 views)
  7. Mister Days’ legendary ‘Rally in the Alley’ returning this weekend in Clarendon (7552 views)
  8. Another office-to-apartment project could bring 269 units to Ballston (6009 views)
  9. Amid federal layoffs, Arlington sees surge in people looking for jobs (5030 views)
  10. Demolition begins at Red Lion Hotel, with new apartments expected by fall 2027 (4935 views)
  11. Nepalese restaurant ‘Himalayan Wild Yak’ opens in Ballston next week (4707 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Saturday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

🌥️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect patchy fog to clear by 9am, giving way to mostly cloudy conditions and a high temperature near 62°F, accompanied by a south wind of 6-9 mph. Saturday night, there’s a slight possibility of showers after 2am, as temperatures dip to around 59°F. The south wind will pick up, blowing at 8-15 mph and gusting up to 22 mph, with a 20% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
– Thomas A. Edison

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋


Sports

Barcroft Park Field No. 1 will be the main site of the annual Arlington Little League  2025 opening-day ceremonies, set for Sunday, April 6.

The event will begin between 1:30 and 2 p.m. with a parade of multiple baseball teams and their players and coaches onto the  main field at Barcroft Park, where games, announcements, recognitions and first pitches are scheduled to be thrown.


Sports

Talk about durability — Alyssa Hayashi was the definition of that word during her college career for the Swarthmore College women’s basketball team.

Over four seasons, the Bishop O’Connell High School graduate started 99 of the 101 games she played in for the Division III team.


Sports

Dating back a number of seasons, the Yorktown Patriots have long winning streaks working against its two biggest Arlington County high-school baseball rivals.

Entering this spring’s action, Yorktown has defeated the Wakefield Warriors 25 straight times dating back to the 2007 campaign. Wakefield last defeated Yorktown when it swept three games from the Patriots in 2006.