The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Alert for Alexandria and surrounding communities for Thursday (June 12).
The current weather forecast from the National Weather Service calls for Thursday to be sunny, with a high near 94 degrees.
Getting around Alexandria by bike just got a little easier.
Capital Bikeshare announced today (June 11) that it has added two new stations in Alexandria.
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.
Northern Virginia is reportedly among the “five cities run by Democratic leaders” that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is preparing to deploy tactical units to, according to MSNBC.
Citing two unnamed sources “familiar with the planning of future ICE operations,” MSNBC reported that ICE is preparing to deploy tactical response teams in New York City, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Northern Virginia.
City Council formally recognized June as LGBTQ+ Pride month in Alexandria on Tuesday night (June 10).
“It’s very real that there are people in this country, and even in this city, who, because of who they are, don’t know if they’re going to be welcomed or not,” City Council Member R. Kirk McPike said before reading a city proclamation. “This is a difficult time for many people in our community, LGBTQ+ communities across the country.”
Event location
Woodson High School
9525 Main Street
Fairfax, Virginia 22031
Northern Virginia Fairfax Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) cordially invites you to attend and support our upcoming World Day of Remembrance (WDoR) for Road Traffic Victims.
World Day of Remembrance is an annual event where we honor those whose lives were prematurely ended after being struck by a person driving. This year is particularly painful and sad as we think about the recent death of a 13-year-old Frost middle school student who was struck and killed by a person driving a truck on Pickett Road. We will also honor the nearly 30 other people (as of today’s date) who have been killed on Northern Virginia streets while, walking, biking, or rolling since last year’s day of remembrance.
Alexandria city staff is moving forward with plans to transition the Torpedo Factory Art Center to a new governance structure, with three organizations responding to a recently issued Request for Information (RFI).
Deputy City Manager Emily Baker provided this update to City Council during Tuesday’s legislative meeting, outlining progress on implementing recommendations from a stakeholder task force that worked on the issue in 2022 and 2023.
Ben N Jerry’s, Urbano 116, Patagonia, and Jeni’s Ice Cream are just a few of the 21 mixed-use properties in Old Town that have been put on the market.
North Carolina-based Asana Partners bought the properties along the King Street Mile (between the waterfront and the King Street Metro station) worth more than $100 million between 2016 and 2018. Asana reportedly invested $20 million into their redevelopment, and now the portfolio is being marketed by D.C. firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).
As summer approaches, homeowners begin their annual preparations – cleaning, lawn maintenance, decorating and organizing. Amid all the excitement and planning, one key aspect often gets overlooked: the bathroom, particularly the toilet.
Whether it’s hosting a large graduation party, family cookout, or entertaining friends by the pool, the last thing a homeowner wants is an embarrassing plumbing problem, such as leaking, clogging, slow filling, or visibly aging toilets. That’s where ToiletKing steps in with their fast and affordable process for replacing toilets in under an hour, ensuring homes are summer ready.
ToiletKing, a Virginia-based home services company founded in Loudoun County, offers a unique solution: replacing homeowners’ toilets in under an hour. This service is designed to be both fast and affordable, addressing a range of common toilet issues that often arise at inconvenient times.
Addressing Common Toilet Problems Before Summer
During busy summer gatherings, the bathroom, and particularly the toilet, is one of the most frequently used spaces in the home. Toilets that are aging, malfunctioning or have a weak flush can quickly become a source of stress. Some of the most common issues include:
Replacing problematic toilets before the summer is a proactive measure that can help avoid costly repairs and potential inconveniences for homeowners and guests.
FAST and EFFICIENT SERVICE
ToiletKing has developed a process that enables them to replace toilets quickly and efficiently, completing the installation in under one hour. This expedited service is designed to help homeowners avoid long waits or interruptions to their summer plans.
Chris Karageorgos, Founder of ToiletKing, explains the company’s approach: “Our process focuses on streamlining the toilet replacement experience. We’ve structured our service to replace any standard toilet within an hour, with precision, minimizing disruption to homeowners. We understand that during the summer, time is better spent outdoors and not waiting around all day for your toilet to be replaced.”
AFFORDABILITY and TRANSPARENCY
In addition to speed, ToiletKing emphasizes affordability and upfront pricing. The company aims to provide homeowners with an affordable solution for upgrading their toilets without compromising on the quality of service or materials. All pricing is provided up front, with no hidden fees or gimmicks, which can be especially important in these economic times.
The company’s competitive pricing, combined with a high level of expertise, has positioned them as a convenient option for those seeking to upgrade their toilets in preparation for summer gatherings. The company’s service is designed to cater to both those who need last-minute solutions and those who want to replace an aging toilet before it becomes a larger issue.
HOW OUR PROCESS WORKS
We are the easy button for toilet replacement. Simply visit our website at www.toiletkingva.com, select a toilet from one of our toilet replacement plans, place your order in under a minute, and we can be out there the next day to install your new toilet in under an hour. It’s that easy. We’ve done the homework to select the best toilets, divided them into four plans to match your budget and style, and put them on an easy-to-navigate website. We offer toilets from all the reputable brands such as Kohler, American Standard, and Toto. It’s an easy way to check this chore off your summer list.
Visit Toiletkingva.com to see the company’s full selection of toilet models and purchase your new toilet today. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Alexandria City Council is hosting a town hall meeting on Thursday (June 12) from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center Gymnasium (901 Wythe Street).
All council members will be present to discuss issues affecting Alexandria residents and provide updates on upcoming projects.
Alexandria City Council members expressed concerns about proposed changes to the School Resource Officer program that would give police direct access to student information during a lengthy discussion at Tuesday’s legislative meeting.
The debate centers on updates to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) and the Alexandria Police Department (APD) regarding School Resource Officers (SROs).
