Claire French

Claire's main focus is Wills, Trusts, Probate, Court of Protection

Claire's main focus is advising on Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Estate Administration and Court of Protection Matters including Statutory Wills. She qualified in 2014, and is a full member of Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and The Association of Lifetime Lawyers.

Experience

  • Advising on and drafting Wills.
  • Advising on ways to mitigate claims on your estate.
  • Advising on your inheritance tax position including passing your assets tax efficiently to the next generation.
  • Advising on how best to set up Lasting Powers of Attorney, preparing the documents and registering them with the Office of the Public Guardian.
  • Advising on and making deputyship applications including Statutory Wills and applications to buy or sell property on a deputy’s behalf.
  • Advising on all aspects of Estate Administration including Deeds of Variation.
  • Advising on trusts (their set up and on-going administration) to protect vulnerable beneficiaries and to pass on wealth tax efficiently, drafting trust deeds and deeds of appointment and retirement of trustees.

Date of qualification

Claire qualified as a solicitor in 2014.

Outside of the office

Claire enjoys spending time with family and friends, and countryside walks with her excitable labradoodle.

Professional memberships & accolades

STEP
Lifetime Lawyers

Expert commentary & updates

Estate planning after the Autumn Budget: What now?
Hay & Kilner's Wills, Trusts & Estates Team explains the Autumn Budget estate planning update, and what steps to take to protect your estate.
Putting compassion and expertise at the heart of Court of Protection work
Hay & Kilner's Court of Protection Team are dedicated to helping those who lack capacity through illness, disability or traumatic brain injury. Find out how they can help you.
A brief guide to lifetime gifting
Alexis Wood, Solicitor in our Wills, Trusts & Estates Team, explains how lifetime gifting can help reduce Inheritance Tax and support loved ones during your lifetime. Discover key allowances, tax exemptions, and the seven-year rule in this practical estate planning guide.
Lasting Powers of Attorney: 5 common misconceptions and what you need to know
Hay & Kilner’s Wills, Trusts & Estates Team dispel 5 common misconceptions about lasting powers of attorney and explain what you need to know for effective estate planning.
Business continuity starts with your Will and Power of Attorney: what business owners should know
Alice Clewes, Partner in our Wills, Trusts & Estates Team, outlines what business owners need to know about Will planning and Powers of Attorney to safeguard business continuity.
A new era for estate planning: Inside the Wills Bill 2025
Felicity Nelson, from our Wills, Trusts & Estates Team, explains what the proposed Wills Bill 2025 could mean for Wills, inheritance and UK estate law.
Enduring Power of Attorney: What you need to know
Hay & Kilner’s Wills, Trusts & Estates Team explain what an Enduring Power of attorney is and how it differs from a Lasting Power of Attorney.

You may also need advice on

Wills, Trusts & Estates

Hay & Kilner, a full service Wills, Trusts & Estates law firm, with advice and support to protect your family assets and future. Contact our Wills, Trusts & Estates solicitors.

Court of Protection

Get support for Court of Protection deputyship, applications, and financial management from Hay & Kilner’s expert legal team.

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‘Hay & Kilner’ and ‘Hay & Kilner Law Firm’ are both trading names of Hay & Kilner LLP, a limited liability partnership registered in England & Wales with registered number OC418767. Our registered office is at The Lumen, St James' Boulevard, Newcastle Helix, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5BZ and we are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (Authorisation number 643191). We use the word ‘partner’ to refer to a member of Hay & Kilner LLP. A list of the members is available at our registered office.