Elena Stylianou

Expertise

I work in the Wills and Probate Department, where I act for both UK and non-UK domicile individuals. My work involves drafting Wills and offering tax planning and Inheritance Tax advice. I also act on administering all types of estates from beginning to end, no matter the size or complexity. In addition to this, I also assist clients with putting in place Lasting Powers of Attorney. As well as working in the Wills and Probate department, I have extensive experience working on all types of residential conveyancing matters.

Experience

I qualified as a solicitor in 2015, where I worked in a west end firm heading up the Wills and Probate department before joining the Wills and Probate department at YVA. Alongside this, I also work in the residential conveyancing department, working on all types of residential matters for both UK and non-UK domicile individuals, overseas and onshore companies, and Trusts.

I have worked on a wide variety of estates, ranging from very simple estates where no inheritance tax is payable to very complex estates with a large amount of assets, which may include company shares, property portfolios, and a wide variety of bank accounts. My role includes acting for executors/administrators to determine the assets of the estate, preparing and submitting Inheritance Tax returns to HMRC, applying to the Probate Registry for either a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, and administering the estate to the beneficiaries/next of kin.

I also have considerable experience in residential conveyancing matters ranging from sales and purchases (both freehold and leasehold), re-mortgages, and transfers of equity. I act for a wide range of clients, including first-time buyers, those looking to move home, investors, and onshore and offshore companies. I also act for developers to sell their plots within a newly built development, and I also have considerable experience acting for buyers of new-build plots. I also act for landlords in relation to licences to assign, licences to alter, voluntary lease extensions, and serving Section 5 notices for the sale of a freehold.

Outside of work… I enjoy spending quality time with my family, heading to the gym, and doing anything that involves food!

On my first day at YVA… Everyone took the time to come and speak to me and made me feel at ease almost immediately. Having done work experience at YVA before starting my legal career, I already felt like part of the family.