In a dramatic turn of events, a divorcee from Sutton has lost her court battle to reclaim a £1 million fortune that she had transferred to her daughters in order to continue receiving state benefits.
Camilla Bains, whose ill health and reliance on means-tested benefits led her to transfer assets, now faces the consequences of her actions after the court ruled in favor of her daughters.
The lengthy financial wrangling between Camilla and her ex-husband began after their divorce in 2011 but wasn’t settled until 2019.
Amidst these negotiations, Camilla made the controversial decision to give away a substantial portion of her divorce settlement to her two daughters, Sonia and Sharn Bains.
Sonia, a sports doctor, and Sharn, a lawyer, became the recipients of this money, and a house was also transferred to Sonia, despite it being legally in her name.
Family Fallout and Courtroom Drama
Following the financial transfers, a bitter feud broke out among the family.
Camilla, feeling entitled to the assets she had given away, tried to reclaim both the £295,000 and the house, citing her original ownership.
What followed was a bitter court case that exposed deeply rooted tensions within the family.
Sonia, who had previously donated a kidney to her mother in a life-saving transplant, expressed frustration, accusing her mother of being driven by greed and jealousy over her daughters’ success.
Judge Rules in Favor of Daughters Despite Mother’s Claims
After a two-week trial, Judge Nigel Gerald delivered a verdict that left Camilla’s hopes dashed.
He ruled that she could not claim ownership of either the house or the money that had been transferred to her daughters.
This ruling came after it was revealed that Camilla had burned trust deeds that once confirmed her ownership of the property.
The judge acknowledged that although Sonia’s name appeared on the house’s documents, it was clear from the signed agreements that Camilla was considered the true beneficial owner.
However, the court also found that Camilla had intentionally divested herself of her assets in a bid to protect her benefits.
This move was flagged by her lawyers after the 2019 divorce settlement, with legal advice warning her about the potential risks of benefit fraud.
Camilla’s actions to safeguard her state benefits, including the burning of the trust deeds, were seen as a deliberate attempt to manipulate the system.
The Court’s Final Decision and Family Rift
In the end, the judge declared that the £295,000, including the £240,000 given to Sharn and the £55,000 transferred to Sonia, were gifts rather than loans or trust assets.
Camilla’s attempt to have the money returned was denied, as it was understood that the money was no longer hers.
The judge emphasized that the money was legally transferred, and once given, it became the property of her daughters.
The case, which has been described as a “sad and troubled” family dispute, has left a long-lasting mark on the Bains family.
The final decision means that Sonia retains ownership of the house and £55,000, while Sharn keeps the £240,000 she received.
However, the £45,000 that was transferred to Sonia is designated for the benefit of her brother, the court found.
A Tragic Family Divide with Lingering Effects
The judge’s ruling concluded that this wasn’t a case of daughters taking advantage of their mother but rather a situation where Camilla had made a regrettable decision to give away her assets, likely motivated by the desire to maintain her state benefits.
The tension within the Bains family has been intense, and the bitter legal battle is now a painful reminder of the consequences of greed and manipulation.
This courtroom drama marks the tragic end of what was once a close-knit family, with a daughter saving her mother’s life just a few years earlier by donating a kidney.
Now, the relationship between Camilla and her daughters has been irreparably damaged, and the courtroom ruling has provided a bitter resolution to the family’s years of financial turmoil.