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Brazilian Doula Gabriela Teixeira Launches Explosive High Court Fight Over £5 Million London Property Fortune After Late Investor Husband Abbas Moaven Cuts Her From Estate

Temitope Oke
By Temitope Oke

What began as the life of a wealthy property investor’s family in London has now turned into a bitter inheritance fight worth millions.

At the centre of the dispute is Brazilian-born birth doula Gabriela Teixeira, who says she and her two children were effectively cut out of the fortune left behind by her late husband, Abbas Moaven.

The battle is now unfolding in the High Court, where Teixeira claims that crucial legal documents signed shortly before her husband’s death were designed to prevent her from inheriting property worth millions.

A Marriage Built During a Time of Growing Wealth

Teixeira met Moaven around the year 2000 while visiting one of his restaurants in the upscale London neighborhood of Notting Hill.

The pair married two years later in 2002 and went on to raise two children together — Elis and Aryan.

During their marriage, the family lived in a series of luxurious homes in some of the capital’s most prestigious districts, including Holland Park and Kensington.

Moaven had built a substantial property portfolio over the years, and his wealth was estimated at around £5 million by the time of his death.

A Sudden Change to Property Ownership

Shortly before Moaven died in 2012 at the age of 45 following a cancer diagnosis, he signed a series of legal declarations concerning four properties.

Those documents stated that the properties were not solely his, but were instead jointly owned with his mother and his brother, Amir Moaven.

At the time, the properties were valued at more than £3 million.

The declarations dramatically reduced the value of Moaven’s estate and, in turn, the amount that Teixeira and her children could inherit.

According to Teixeira, the move effectively stripped away the wealth she believed would support her family.

A Legal Argument Over “Sham” Documents

Teixeira’s legal team argues that the declarations of trust were never meant to reflect genuine ownership.

Instead, they claim the documents were a legal tactic designed to prevent Teixeira from accessing the estate.

Her barrister told the court that notes written by lawyers at the time suggested Moaven’s brother was worried that Teixeira might leave the UK with their children and return to Brazil after Moaven died.

The notes allegedly raised questions about how the family could prevent her from taking the children abroad and accessing the property funds.

Teixeira’s lawyers argue this shows the documents were created specifically to defeat her inheritance claims.

The Brother’s Defence

Amir Moaven strongly denies those claims.

His legal team says the properties had always been jointly owned by the two brothers and their mother as part of longstanding family business arrangements.

According to their argument, the declarations of trust simply formalised an agreement that had existed for years.

They also insist that disappointment over a smaller inheritance does not automatically prove wrongdoing.

The Moaven Family Business Story

The Moaven brothers originally moved to the United Kingdom from Iran in 1982 to live with their father.

Their entrepreneurial journey began with a clothing shop in West London called Homeboy.

As the mobile phone boom took off in the 1990s, they moved into telecommunications and later expanded into the restaurant business.

Over time, the brothers invested heavily in property across London — a move that helped them accumulate significant wealth.

Their investments included homes in areas such as Queen’s Gate and Maida Hill.

A Widow’s Struggle After Wealth

Today, Teixeira says her life is very different from the one she lived while her husband was alive.

She now works as a birth doula — a non-medical professional who provides emotional and physical support to mothers during pregnancy and childbirth.

According to her lawyers, her income is far from enough to maintain the lifestyle she once had when Moaven was alive and actively managing his business empire.

Another Complication: The Family Matriarch’s Death

The family situation became even more complicated after Moaven’s mother died in 2023.

Her will reportedly divides her estate between the remaining family members, leaving half to Amir and the other half split between Teixeira’s two children.

This adds yet another layer to the already tense inheritance dispute.

The Court Awaits a Decision

After a week-long hearing, the presiding judge reserved his decision and will deliver a ruling at a later date.

That ruling could determine whether the disputed properties are returned to Moaven’s estate — potentially restoring millions to the inheritance of Teixeira and her children.

If the court sides with Amir, however, the estate may remain far smaller than Teixeira expected.

Impact and Consequences

The case highlights how inheritance disputes can fracture families and leave financial uncertainty lasting for years.

Fourteen years after Moaven’s death, the estate has still not been fully resolved.

For Teixeira and her children, that means more than a decade of legal battles and unanswered questions about the true extent of the family wealth.

Legal experts say cases like this are not uncommon when large property portfolios are involved, particularly when ownership structures and informal family agreements were never clearly documented.

What’s Next?

The High Court’s upcoming ruling will decide whether the declarations of trust were legitimate or merely a legal strategy.

If the court finds they were a “sham,” the disputed properties could be returned to the estate, potentially restoring millions in inheritance for Teixeira and her children.

If not, the family may be forced to accept that the fortune they expected simply does not exist in the form they believed.

Either outcome is likely to shape the family’s financial future for years to come.

Summary

A London inheritance battle involving Brazilian doula Gabriela Teixeira and the family of her late husband Abbas Moaven has raised serious questions about property ownership and estate planning.

At the heart of the dispute are four London properties worth millions that were declared jointly owned shortly before Moaven’s death.

Teixeira claims the move was designed to prevent her from inheriting the assets, while her brother-in-law insists it merely reflected longstanding family arrangements.

The High Court must now determine which version of events is true.

Bulleted Takeaways

  • Brazilian birth doula Gabriela Teixeira is fighting a High Court battle over her late husband’s £5 million estate.

  • Property investor Abbas Moaven died in 2012 after signing documents declaring several homes jointly owned with family members.

  • Those documents reduced the inheritance available to his wife and children.

  • Teixeira argues the documents were a legal “sham” intended to block her from accessing the estate.

  • Abbas’s brother Amir denies wrongdoing and says the properties were always family assets.

  • The disputed properties include homes in prestigious London areas such as Holland Park and Kensington.

  • A court decision is pending and could determine whether millions are restored to the estate.

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About Temitope Oke

Temitope Oke is an experienced copywriter and editor. With a deep understanding of the Nigerian market and global trends, he crafts compelling, persuasive, and engaging content tailored to various audiences. His expertise spans digital marketing, content creation, SEO, and brand messaging. He works with diverse clients, helping them communicate effectively through clear, concise, and impactful language. Passionate about storytelling, he combines creativity with strategic thinking to deliver results that resonate.