Let's Talk Business November 2020 Hounslow Chamber of Commerce

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LEGAL

Sarah Austin

Austins Solicitors

The two certainties in life are death and taxes. Neither of which you can avoid but you can mitigate. Austins is a STEP accredited practice specialising in trusts, estates and wills. We use our specialist skills to draft bespoke deeds, trusts and wills. This enables our clients and their families to better organise their property and finances.

WILLS Without a valid will, assets could pass according to the intestacy rules that automatically apply. This could lead to misunderstandings, claims or even leave the estate vulnerable to expensive court proceedings. As you would not have provided your specific instructions on anything from your funeral arrangements, to charity donations or trusts for children or gifts outside your family. Your spouse or civil partner doesn’t automatically inherit all of your estate. Unmarried partners have no automatic rights at all under the intestacy rules. Depending on your circumstances, they may have to share the estate with other relatives. So a professionally drafted Will is a valuable and considerate asset. It ensures succession certainty and tax efficiency. We offer will drafting for a fixed fee and discounts are offered where we draft two wills at the same time. So you can dovetail your wishes.

Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) Following on from that theme Lasting Powers of Attorney LPA) are an essential tool to be considered at the same time as your wills. As you can only draft a LPA if you have the mental capacity to do so. It enables you to instruct an individual (attorney) to act on your behalf, in respect of your property and affairs or regarding your health and welfare. It can last a lifetime or until you cancel it. You have the power to authorise your choice of individuals to assist you if you are temporarily or permanently incapacitated by illness, dementia or mobility issues. Our clients find it reassuring that their affairs can be managed efficiently and without delay when required. During the current pandemic it has been even more in demand and used extensively. Without a LPA your family would need to apply to Office of the Public Guardian to apply to act on someone’s behalf. It is a costly and lengthy procedure that can take months, when you most need assistance. You don’t get to control who manages your affairs and in exceptional cases the applicant can be a local authority. Again Austins can guide and assist you to prepare a bespoke LPA according to your wishes and needs for a reasonable fixed fee. Sarah Austin TEP

My name is Christophe and I am a freelance web designer and developer based in Brentford. I entered the web “sphere” with a first hands-on experience 10 years ago working for an online magazine and loved it. A few years working in other areas, happy but definitely missing my computer - I took the decision to rethink my career and become a full time web designer and developer. Each project starts with a new world to discover and understand, in order to translate as accurately as possible the business identity into a successful digital product. So far I have worked with clients in the public and private sector, from artists and artisans, small businesses and charities, to larger commercial operations. While I can work alongside customers to build tailored websites, another option I offer is the purchase of templates as a ‘readymade’ and cheaper solution for the businesses that will then just need to upload their content and make the chosen design their own with minimum effort. Whether I work for a business’s website from scratch or via the building of templates, I use marketing tools that will make your digital presence as powerful as possible.

Here are a few key points to remember if you want to go live: 1. Look professional. Your website is your business card and reflects your identity and work ethos. 2. Know your audience. Whereas some cutting-edge designs might be a great idea for creative businesses they might not suit your customers expectations if you are a more traditional company 3. Take control. This is a great time to rethink your identity and what you want to communicate, so make sure that you actively contribute to your digital adventure.

+44 7435 296 807 christofcamara@gmail.com Building 3 Chiswick Business Park 566 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, London W4 5YA Tel: 0800 3777716 (+44203 858 0041) Fax 08456 583635 | www.austinsandco.co.uk

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www.christophecamara.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophe-camara/


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