County Board members on Tuesday night voted 4-1 to advertise a 1-cent increase to Arlington’s real-estate tax rate.
That compares to no increase proposed by County Manager Mark Schwartz, and would, if fully adopted, raise a typical homeowner’s tax bill 4.7% year-over-year.
An Arlington woman is facing several charges after a hit-and-run crash in the Virginia Square area.
The incident started around 9:15 a.m. this past Saturday. Archived traffic camera video (via SafetyVid) shows a car heading southbound on N. Quincy Street, past Arlington Central Library, before barrelling into an SUV stopped at the traffic light at Fairfax Drive.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A will is only one part of a comprehensive estate plan. Depending on your circumstances, you may also benefit from:
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.
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.
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
DCA Delays for Marine One — “Airline passengers have experienced serious disruptions at Washington’s Reagan National Airport because of new rules that trigger runway closures when President Donald Trump flies to and from the White House aboard his helicopter, according to people aware of the restrictions, flight tracking data and federal records.” [Washington Post]
Mom Discusses Locker Room Encounter — “When McDougal first walked into the locker room and saw Cox fully undressed, she admitted she wondered if she had misread the situation. For a brief moment, McDougal said, she was tempted to think Cox wandered into the wrong locker room and then ‘felt stuck.’ The alternative — that Cox had deliberately entered the girls’ locker room knowing there would be dozens of under-aged girls changing before swim class — was too appalling to wrap her head around.” [IW Features, Fox News]
Tesla Buyer’s Remorse — “Protests against DOGE have taken place almost weekly and Tesla showrooms have also been picketed, including ones in Georgetown, Arlington and Owings Mills, Maryland… For some Washington residents, the political baggage associated with owning a Tesla has become too great.” [Washington Post]
Falls Church ADU Latest — “On February 19, 2025, the Planning Commission, in its final work session on accessory dwellings (ADs), provided individual Commissioners’ views on six key issues that need to be resolved.” [Falls Church Pulse]
Metro Ridership Recovery Continues — “Metro says this morning’s rush hour was the highest number of weekday rail rush hour trips since pre-pandemic. Yesterday was the highest Monday rail ridership in 5 yrs. The agency expects to carry over 1 million passengers a day on rail/bus soon.” [Adam Tuss/X, NBC 4]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 63 degrees, accompanied by a 6 to 8 mph west wind that will shift to the south in the afternoon. On Wednesday night, the skies will see increasing clouds, and the temperature will drop to around 49 degrees. The south wind will maintain a speed of 6 to 8 mph. [NWS]
Good Tuesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Feb 25, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect sunny weather and a high near 63 degrees, accompanied by a 6 to 8 mph west wind that will shift to the south in the afternoon. As for Wednesday night, the skies will see increasing clouds, and the temperature will drop to around 49 degrees. The south wind will maintain a speed of 6 to 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
– Edmund Burke
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
Join DC Road Runners and Potomac Valley Track Club for our annual Family Night at the Track and Meet of Miles. The event is open to runners of all ages and paces as well as nonmembers.
This event hosts 400 meter and 800 meter races for kids ages 1-8, as well as multiple 1-mile heats for participants of all ages. There is also a 3K race that is open to participants of all ages.
An Arlington memorial fund has raised nearly $10,000 in honor of a teen figure skater killed in last month’s mid-air plane crash over the Potomac River.
The Edward “Eddie” Zhou STEM and Figure Skating Enrichment Fund aims to honor two of the late teenager’s passions by supporting Northern Virginia middle and high school-age figure skaters with interests in STEM. One of Zhou’s friends, 15-year-old Charlotte Mount, started the fund this month with the goal of carrying on his memory.
Plans for more public seating, real-time transit displays and a new food truck court are included in a proposed changes to a highly trafficked area in Courthouse.
Respondents have until Sunday, March 2 to provide feedback on a new concept design for the “mobility hub” near the Court House Metro station. This area includes the Arlington County government headquarters at Courthouse Plaza, Strayer University, The Commodore Apartments and the county’s large surface parking lot.
A former Washington-Liberty High School coach has been acquitted of two sex crime charges involving a former player.
George Porcha, who was the head girls basketball coach at the Arlington school from 2000-03, still faces another trial for similar charges this spring.
ARLnow’s Alexandria sister site ALXnow is getting a new publisher.
Ryan Belmore, an award-winning news publisher, editor, and journalist, will be taking over as ALXnow publisher on March 1, under an innovative operating agreement with Arlington-based Local News Now LLC.
Arlington County police and medics are on scene of a bank robbery along Columbia Pike.
The robbery happened around 11:15 a.m. at the Wells Fargo at 951 S. George Mason Drive. Initial reports suggest that a man in a black suit, fedora, and surgical mask and gloves passed a note to a teller and stole cash.
