Shake Shack is cooking up plans to open in a former bank in Old Town.
The burger chain filed permit requests to open at the former Burke and Herbert Bank at 621 King Street last December. Shake Shack now seeks approval for new signage and has included a new rendering of the building exterior (see below) in their application heading to the Board of Architectural Review.
Alexandria is rolling out the rainbow carpet this week with a packed schedule of Pride Month celebrations, including Saturday’s official Alexandria Pride event at City Hall and Market Square, complemented by LGBTQ+ themed activities at local libraries, a mystical Pride prom at the Torpedo Factory, and an LGBTQ history walking tour.
Beyond Pride festivities, residents can catch “The Play That Goes Wrong” at Little Theatre of Alexandria, enjoy live music ranging from Irish traditional sessions to comedy nights, and participate in community events like farmers markets, yoga classes, and the return of Oktoberfest at Port City Brewing Company.
When a loved one passes away, families often face difficult decisions about funeral arrangements, finances, and the distribution of property. One common question is whether having a will automatically means the estate must go through probate.
Not necessarily. Whether probate is required in Virginia depends largely on how the deceased person’s assets were owned and whether those assets have another method of transferring to heirs or beneficiaries.
Understanding when probate is required—and when it can be avoided—can help families navigate estate administration with greater confidence.
Probate is the legal process used to administer certain assets belonging to a deceased person, or decedent. In Virginia, probate generally takes place through the circuit court in the city or county where the decedent lived.
When probate is necessary, the court recognizes the will, if there is one, and appoints a personal representative to handle the estate. The personal representative is responsible for identifying and collecting assets, addressing valid debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining property according to the will or Virginia’s intestacy laws.
Importantly, having a will does not automatically mean every asset must pass through probate. A will generally controls probate assets, while certain property passes directly to another person through ownership arrangements or beneficiary designations.
Probate is generally necessary when someone dies owning assets in their individual name that do not have another method of transferring ownership.
Examples can include:
In these situations, probate may be necessary to give the personal representative authority to transfer or distribute the property.
Some assets can transfer automatically after death and therefore may not need to pass through probate.
Jointly owned property: Assets held jointly with rights of survivorship generally pass to the surviving owner.
Beneficiary-designated accounts: Life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and certain bank accounts can pass directly to the beneficiaries named on the account.
Revocable living trusts: Assets properly transferred into a revocable living trust generally avoid probate because the trust owns the property rather than the deceased individual.
Virginia also provides a simplified option for certain small estates. Under Va. Code § 64.2-601, qualifying personal property valued at $75,000 or less may be transferred using a small estate affidavit rather than a full probate proceeding, provided the statutory requirements are satisfied.
This simplified procedure applies to qualifying personal property, not real estate, and can be particularly useful when an estate consists of modest assets such as a bank account or vehicle.
When probate is necessary, the personal representative must complete several steps before the estate can be closed. These typically include identifying and valuing estate assets, filing the required inventory, addressing creditor claims and taxes, and distributing assets to beneficiaries.
Virginia also imposes deadlines for certain estate filings. The inventory generally must be filed within four months after qualification, while the first accounting is generally due within 16 months.
When Alexandria residents want to know what’s happening in their community, they turn to ALXnow. Since launching in 2019, the local news site has become the go-to source for everything from city council updates to restaurant openings, building a loyal readership of more than 250,000 engaged monthly visitors.
But here’s what many local business owners don’t realize: that same platform that keeps Alexandrians informed can also help promote your business to the community that matters most.
Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Monday, June 23, the 174th day of 2025. There are 191 days left in the year.
☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny and hot, with a high near 101 degrees. Heat index values as high as 110 degrees. North wind 3 to 6 mph.
High school students from across the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region are invited to participate in Dialogue for Democracy at George Mason University!
Hosted by the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, this event offers high school students an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about democracy, civic engagement, and the importance of understanding different perspectives.
The Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center (NVJDC) is undertaking a multi-year series of capital improvements, in addition to becoming its own food authority.
Leaders running the facility at 200 S. Whiting Street say they’re gradually changing it from a traditional detention center to a more rehabilitative facility. Proposed changes for the jail that houses 10- to 18-year-old kids across Northern Virginia include creating a more cheerful entry area for families, replacing the 64-year-old concrete slab beds on which kids sleep, and modifying overhead lighting to improve sleep.
The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning and Extreme Heat Watch for Alexandria and surrounding communities.
The Extreme Heat Warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday (June 23). The Extreme Heat Watch will be in effect from Tuesday morning (June 24) through the evening.
Governor Glenn Youngkin announced a new slate of board appointments to Virginia’s public universities on Friday (June 20), including several Alexandria residents who will serve on governing boards across the state’s higher education system.
The appointees from Alexandria are;
It’s been two days since severe thunderstorms passed through Alexandria, knocking out power for more than 8,800 Dominion Energy customers.
Most customers saw power restored within hours, but 489 customers across Alexandria are still in the dark.
Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Saturday, June 21, the 172nd day of 2025. There are 193 days left in the year.
☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny, with a high near 92 degrees. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Mostly clear tonight, with a low around 74. South wind around seven mph.
