News

Former President Donald Trump attended a wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery and made a campaign stop in Falls Church earlier today (Monday).

Trump visited the cemetery to mark the three-year anniversary of a suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members. He then made an appearance at Truong Tien Restaurant at the Eden Center, alongside Vietnamese-American U.S. Senate candidate Hung Cao (R).


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


News

Roughly 150 employees at Reagan National Airport are holding informational pickets this week as they pursue the right to organize a union.

The employees, who work across four concessions operated by Master ConcessionAir, were scheduled to picket from 10-11:30 a.m. today (Monday) as well as from 1-3 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday) on the airport’s ticketing level, just outside of Door 6.


News

A large group of people on dirt bikes, ATVs and motorcycles rode through parts of Arlington Saturday night.

The illicit ride, involving dozens if not hundreds of riders, made its way through the Rosslyn area around 8 p.m., startling some diners at local restaurants and residents out for a sunset stroll. The ride also went through parts of D.C., including H Street NE.


News

Crowds of cheering supporters thronged Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center on Sunday to celebrate the triumphant return of Olympic gold medalist Torri Huske.

“This Olympics was such an amazing experience,” said Huske, who returned home to Arlington from Paris with three gold medals and two silver medals in swimming events. “It was such an honor representing not only my country, but all of you. And I wanted to let you know that as much as this medal, or all of these medals, are mine, a little piece of it also belongs to you guys — because Arlington helped make me the person I am today.”


News

A fire in a small strip mall has blocked Glebe Road during the morning rush hour.

Firefighters were dispatched to a restaurant at 71 N. Glebe Road around 6:30 a.m. for a report of a business on fire. They found smoke coming from below the roof, fire in the basement and a hole in the floor, according to scanner traffic.


News
New apartment building in Courthouse (courtesy George Brazier)

Police Chase Through Arlington — From Dave Statter: “If you heard a helicopter circling over Route 50 and Fillmore in Arlington around 2:00 a.m. this is the reason why. @VSPPIO chased a damaged car from the Beltway onto Route 29. This video shows the pursuit coming put of Falls Church into Arlington… the abandoned car was later found on Fillmore just north of 50.” [Twitter]

County Board Meetings Relocated — “Expect the backdrop of September’s Arlington County Board meetings to look a little different. Owing to renovation work in the board room at the Ellen Bozman Government Center on Clarendon Boulevard, County Board members will hold their Sept. 14 and 22 meetings at the [Arlington] School Board’s meeting room at the Syphax Center on Washington Boulevard.” [Gazette Leader]

Milestone for Sheriff’s Office K-9 — “The Arlington County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce that Cpl. Camardi and K9 Logan have achieved a significant milestone in their service to the community. K9 Logan has been officially certified by the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) in Electronics Detection after successfully completing the rigorous electronic detection trials.” [Arlington County]

Reminder: Back to School — “As students begin returning to Arlington Public Schools this coming Monday, Aug. 26, new initiatives are meant to encourage safer driving around schools this year… Ten new speed cameras have been installed near select schools, operating when school zone lights are flashing at the beginning and end of the school day.” [ARLnow]

It’s Monday — Showers and thunderstorms are possible after 2pm and again before 11pm, with a 30% chance of precipitation for both instances. The day will otherwise be mostly sunny and the temperature will reach a high near 90 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind of 3 to 8 mph. During the night, partially cloudy conditions are predicted with a low temperature around 71 degrees. [NWS]

Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.


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 — Aug 23, 2024.

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

  1. Incident on last night of Arlington County Fair prompts large police response (24951 views)
  2. UPDATED: Green Pig Bistro moving from original Clarendon home (20534 views)
  3. Flood Watch, Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued (11889 views)
  4. Renovations planned at Pentagon City Costco (9405 views)
  5. Welcome home ceremony for Arlington Olympian Torri Huske happening this weekend (8573 views)
  6. New 130-unit assisted living facility proposed on Langston Blvd (6619 views)
  7. New 276-unit apartment proposal is third to enter pipeline under Plan Langston Blvd (6436 views)
  8. New nine-story office building with public plaza is complete in Va. Square (5943 views)
  9. Arlington man arrested for whacking delivery driver’s car with cane (5461 views)
  10. Business owner pushes back as F.C. seeks land acquisitions for W. Broad Street improvements (4963 views)
  11. ACPD: Man with gun arrested in Clarendon (4522 views)
  12. Two ‘buddy benches’ in loving memory of former student coming to MPSA (3192 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 mostly sunny skies, as temperatures reach a high near 86 degrees. Winds will remain calm, transitioning to a 6 mph southern breeze by the afternoon. Saturday night will be mostly clear, with a low of around 64 degrees, and a steady 6 mph south wind. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
– Henry David Thoreau

🌅 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. 👋