Claire joined our Ripon Office in March 2013 and specialises in Wills, Probate, Inheritance Tax, Trusts and Elderly Client Work. Claire was admitted as a solicitor in 2005 and is an Accredited Lifetime Lawyer. She is also a full member of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP), having achieved a distinction in the entrance exams.

Claire read English Literature at the University of York before going on to complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course, both on a part-time basis through the College of Law in York. During this time, she also worked in the Legal Department at Norwich Union dealing with a range of legal matters including trust and taxation work. Claire began her career in private practice at Fitzgerald-Harts solicitors in Boroughbridge, where she worked primarily in litigation, before moving to Heptonstalls LLP in Goole to specialize in Private Client work, staying there for seven years before joining Eccles Heddon.

Claire’s experience is wide-ranging, encompassing dealing with more complex estates in Probate which may include agricultural and business property tax relief, claiming reduced inheritance tax rates for charities, dealing with high-value estates and high-value assets.

Claire has in depth knowledge of inheritance tax and will advise clients on Deeds of Variation where appropriate and is also familiar with the use of Appropriations to reduce capital gains tax. She works closely with accountants to undertake capital gains tax calculations and registering complex estates with HMRC for income tax purposes.

Claire also undertakes Trust work which includes the setting up of Trusts, primarily through Wills, registering them with HMRC and changing Trustees when the need arises.

Working with the Court of Protection is something Claire has often had to deal with and she makes applications to the court regarding individuals who have lost mental capacity to help someone assist them with financial, property and health and welfare decisions.

Claire has three children and, in her spare time, enjoys playing the clarinet, swimming and looking after her golden retriever, Sunny.