A mother who transferred her £1million-plus fortune to her daughters to continue receiving state benefits has lost her legal battle to reclaim the assets.
Camilla Bains was unable to recover ownership of her £800,000 house and £295,000 from a divorce settlement after a family fallout led to court proceedings.
The case was heard at Central London County Court where Judge Nigel Gerald ruled against Bains, finding she had deliberately divested herself of assets to protect her welfare benefits after being warned about the risk of benefit fraud.
Bains transferred £295,000 from her 2019 divorce settlement to her two daughters - sports doctor Sonia Bains, 38, and lawyer Sharn Bains, 29.
Sonia received £100,000 while Sharn was given £240,000. Bains also handed ownership of her £800,000 five-bedroom house in Rosehill Gardens, Sutton, to Sonia.
The property transfer occurred after Bains moved out of her matrimonial home because her ex-husband lived nearby.
Lawyers for Bains claimed the divorce money was only being held by her daughters "on trust" with the understanding she would take it back.
They also argued that despite Sonia's name being on the house deeds, it had been agreed that her mother was the true beneficial owner.
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The court heard that Bains, who relied on means-tested benefits due to ill-health, was warned by her lawyers about the risk of benefit fraud.
This prompted her to transfer assets to her daughters following her divorce, which was finalised in 2019 after years of financial wrangling. However, the family later fell out, leading to a bitter court dispute.
Bains sued her daughters at Central London County Court, attempting to reclaim both the house and the cash.
Sonia, who works as a doctor for the Football Association and previously for Premier League clubs including Arsenal FC, fought back against her mother's claims, describing her as "motivated by greed" and "jealous" of her daughters' success.
Judge Gerald ruled that Bains had no claim to the money or house after she burned trust deeds which would have confirmed her ownership.
A key letter signed around the time of the 2019 divorce payout showed Bains stating she no longer had ownership of the house.
"In my judgment, it is plain that this document was legally effective and binding," the judge said.
"Mother was consciously divesting herself of her assets so as to retain her welfare benefits."
The judge concluded that the money paid to her daughters was "effectively a gift" and belonged to them, not their mother.
"It would be wrong to reach the conclusion that either daughter has done the dirty on their mother," he added.
The court decision confirms Sonia as the true owner of the house and £55,000, while Sharn owns the £240,000 she received.
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Camilla Bains was unable to recover ownership of her £800,000 house and £295,000 from a divorce settlement after a family fallout led to court proceedings.
The case was heard at Central London County Court where Judge Nigel Gerald ruled against Bains, finding she had deliberately divested herself of assets to protect her welfare benefits after being warned about the risk of benefit fraud.
Bains transferred £295,000 from her 2019 divorce settlement to her two daughters - sports doctor Sonia Bains, 38, and lawyer Sharn Bains, 29.
Sonia received £100,000 while Sharn was given £240,000. Bains also handed ownership of her £800,000 five-bedroom house in Rosehill Gardens, Sutton, to Sonia.
The property transfer occurred after Bains moved out of her matrimonial home because her ex-husband lived nearby.
Lawyers for Bains claimed the divorce money was only being held by her daughters "on trust" with the understanding she would take it back.
They also argued that despite Sonia's name being on the house deeds, it had been agreed that her mother was the true beneficial owner.
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The court heard that Bains, who relied on means-tested benefits due to ill-health, was warned by her lawyers about the risk of benefit fraud.
This prompted her to transfer assets to her daughters following her divorce, which was finalised in 2019 after years of financial wrangling. However, the family later fell out, leading to a bitter court dispute.
Bains sued her daughters at Central London County Court, attempting to reclaim both the house and the cash.
Sonia, who works as a doctor for the Football Association and previously for Premier League clubs including Arsenal FC, fought back against her mother's claims, describing her as "motivated by greed" and "jealous" of her daughters' success.
Judge Gerald ruled that Bains had no claim to the money or house after she burned trust deeds which would have confirmed her ownership.
A key letter signed around the time of the 2019 divorce payout showed Bains stating she no longer had ownership of the house.
"In my judgment, it is plain that this document was legally effective and binding," the judge said.
"Mother was consciously divesting herself of her assets so as to retain her welfare benefits."
The judge concluded that the money paid to her daughters was "effectively a gift" and belonged to them, not their mother.
"It would be wrong to reach the conclusion that either daughter has done the dirty on their mother," he added.
The court decision confirms Sonia as the true owner of the house and £55,000, while Sharn owns the £240,000 she received.
Find Out More...