The City of Alexandria is seeking community input on seven high-crash intersections on the city’s West End to inform future safety improvements at these locations.
“We want to hear from you,” the City says in a press release. “Provide your input by completing a short online feedback form by Monday, April 28. Your input will help the project team identify challenges and needs, as well as opportunities for improvement”.
Is love at first sight possible? Find out on Wednesday (April 2) by looking into the eyes of all the adoptable pooches at a “speed-dating” event with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.
“We promise there will be no awkward silences here, just pawsible connections,” AWLA said.
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 all is said and done, Alexandria’s City Council may conduct city business on the ground floor of the renovated City Hall.
That’s just one of the many proposed changes to the 150-year-old building and Market Square at 301 King Street heading to the city’s Board of Architectural Review on April 16 (Wednesday).
Residents at The Landing, a senior living community at 2620 Main Line Blvd. in Alexandria, recently came together for a good cause.
Residents and families organized a toiletry drive to help the Alexandria Domestic Violence Program. The drive wrapped up last week and saw participation from all corners of the community. Residents from Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care units pitched in to gather essential hygiene items for individuals and families facing crisis situations.
If you are interested in learning more about Continuing Care Retirement Communities (also known as "Life Plan Communities"), whether for yourself or for a loved one, please join our free workshop on Wednesday, November 4 from 5:00-7:00 at the Arlington office of Long & Foster. We are hosting this workshop in conjunction with Lisa Bates of the Williamsburg Landing community, which is a particularly excellent model of the way these communities work, and one you may wish to consider!
– How do Continuing Care Retirement Communities work?
– What do they offer?
– How much do they cost, and what are the financial models offered?
– How do you how to evaluate them, and choose the one that's right for you?
– How do you make a plan for a move like this?
– How do you handle a lifetime's worth of possessions?
The Alexandria City Public Schools School Board meets Thursday (April 3) at 6 p.m. for its regular school board meeting, with several important topics on the agenda.
Board members will review the district’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan draft. The Strategic Planning Committee has been working on this plan for the past year, outlining the division’s vision, mission, and core values.
There’s been a gas station at 4001 Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria since 1941, and now the owner is asking the city to allow it to continue operating as-is for 10 more years.
The city approved the current kiosk, canopy, and pump islands at the Exxon station in 1974, but the 17,000-foot property was rezoned as a commercial low (CL) zone in 1992. Since then, it has undergone city reviews to continue operating.
Alexandria is set to bloom with a vibrant array of events this week, offering something for everyone from the casual observer to the dedicated culture enthusiast. Starting March 31st, residents and visitors can dive into a week filled with live music at local hotspots, engaging community workshops at the libraries, bustling farmers’ markets, and unique experiences like beer yoga and terrarium workshops.
Whether you’re looking to enjoy a relaxing evening of jazz, participate in a fun run, or explore local art, Alexandria’s calendar is packed with opportunities to connect and celebrate this spring.
Good Monday morning, Alexandria!
⛈️ Today’s weather: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 82 degrees. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%—new rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. tonight, then scattered showers between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 45 degrees. West wind 7 to 10 mph, becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%—new rainfall amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible.
The Federal Aviation Administration recently announced it had received twice as many applications needed to fill the shortage of air traffic controller vacancies across the country.
In Virginia, there’s a shortage of 133 certified professional controllers from nine FAA air traffic control facilities that serve the commonwealth, according to data from the 11-year FAA Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan.
