A cyclist was hurt and a man was robbed by a trio of robbery suspects over the weekend.
The wild incident started shortly before noon on Saturday, on a cul-de-sac street in the Donaldson Run neighborhood.
Say hello to the charming Topaz!
This bundle of joy is the newest Adoptable Pet of the Week and is currently in foster through the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
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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
A high school student from Arlington was recently awarded a 2024 Princeton Prize in Race Relations for her work in helping to advance racial equity within her school community.
Marlene Reyes, a junior attending Arlington Tech at the Arlington Career Center, is among 28 high school students nationwide recognized by the university for their contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their schools and communities. The prizes are awarded by region.
Here in Arlington, real estate is a spectator sport. Let’s take a look at some of the most and least expensive townhouses sold last month (April 2024).
Most expensive townhouses sold
Join the Rosslyn BID and Arlington Arts at the 34th Rosslyn Jazz Fest 2026 featuring live jazz, food trucks, local vendors, and family-friendly activities in the heart of Rosslyn! This year’s lineup is bringing a diverse mix of performers and bands redefining the jazz music genre including Plena Libre, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, Parlor Greens, and Dogo du Togo & the Alagaa Beat Band.
A forthcoming apartment building at the former site of a Wendy’s in Courthouse is named — wait for it — The Wendy.
The 231-unit building, which broke ground in late 2022, is expected to open this fall, according to signage.
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It was a banner weekend for those who like gazing up at the sky to witness nature’s splendor.
Locals who were hoping to see the aurora borealis in Arlington Friday night were disappointed by the cloud cover. But those who stayed up until the wee hours of Saturday morning managed to see some northern lights amid the extreme geomagnetic storm.
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There have been multiple sightings of a black bear in North Arlington neighborhoods this morning (Monday).
The first sightings were reported in the Yorktown neighborhood.
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Another Boeing Protest Planned — A protest is planned outside of Boeing’s corporate headquarters near Long Bridge Park at noon today. This time, firefighters are planning to protest in response to a labor dispute between the company and its union firefighters. [Twitter]
Crystal City Apartment Building Sold — “The FORTIS Cos. has paid $48.5 million for Marlowe Apartments, a 162-unit community in Arlington, Va., public records show. Equity Residential was the previous owner… The 17-story building came online in 1987 and comprises one- and two-bedroom layouts ranging from 661 to 1,044 square feet.” [Multi-Housing News]
Century Mark for Courthouse Marker — “Happy 100th anniversary to the Mother’s Tree in Courthouse, dedicated this day [May 11] in 1924,” according to a marker next to the tree. [Twitter]
Arlington Nat’l Cemetery Anniversary — “[Today] at 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.! Special walking tours to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the first service members brought to Arlington for burial. ANC historians will take visitors on a tour of Section 27.” [Twitter]
Wanted Suspect Arrested in Clarendon — “At approximately 7:42 a.m. on May 9, police were dispatched to the area of 18th Street N. and N. Highland Street to the report of an exposure. Upon arrival, an officer located an individual matching the description of the suspect and briefly detained him before subsequently releasing him from the scene. It was later determined the individual was wanted by the U.S. Marshal’s Service. Officers canvassed the area for the suspect and located him in the area of the 3100 block of Clarendon Boulevard in possession of a suspected stolen bicycle and took him into custody.” [ACPD]
I-395 Crash Caught on Camera — “I-395N at Exit 10C is like the movie ‘Groundhog Day’. It’s as if the same crash occurs day after day. It seems that way because that’s pretty much what occurs. This driver made their left turn to the exit toward Memorial Bridge from the center lane.” [Twitter]
County Gets Vision Zero Award — “Arlington County was recognized Friday by the National Center for Safe Routes to School as the 2024 recipient of the Vision Zero for Youth U.S. Leadership Award. Arlington County and Arlington Public Schools received praise for their commitment, leadership and collaboration to improve safety for Arlington’s youngest travelers through the Vision Zero initiative.” [Arlington County]
New Delegate Expecting First Child — From Del. Adele McClure: “Happy Mother’s Day! Super excited to tell y’all that I’ll be joining the ranks this Fall!” [Twitter]
Free Fitness Classes — “Bored with your usual workout routine? Try something new by attending a free outdoor class. All on the options on this list are open to participants of any ability level and most welcome drop-ins. Bonus: Most take place in spots with nearby shopping and restaurants. In addition to these summer specials, check your nearest library’s event calendar. Many offer free, year-round yoga classes.” [Arlington Magazine]
Local Money Diary — “Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money… This week: a full-time high school biology teacher and part-time intermediate care nurse who makes $90,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on a raincoat for her dog.” [Refinery 29]
It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 76, as a light south wind increases to 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Tonight, there will be a slight chance of showers after 2am, under partly cloudy conditions and a low around 59. The south wind will continue at around 8 mph, and the probability of precipitation is 20%. [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.
Flickr pool photo by Jason Gooljar
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On Mother’s Day weekend, a pair of moms have defeated a pair of dads in the race for the Democratic endorsement for Arlington School Board.
Kathleen Clark and Zuraya Tapia-Hadley were announced last night as the winners of the coveted endorsement after a nearly two-week party caucus process. They’ll now run in the November general election, where Democratic endorsees are nearly undefeated this century.