Mother who transferred her £1m wealth to her daughters to protect benefits returns to court in bid to reclaim home and cash
A woman who lost a lengthy legal fight over a house and divorce settlement has been given permission to take part of the dispute back to court after judges heard she has been left with no assets.
Camilla Bains and her two daughters were once known for their close family bond. At one point, her daughter Sonia, a medical professional who worked with football organisations, even donated a kidney to help save her mother's life.
However, years later, the family relationship deteriorated following events linked to Camilla's divorce settlement, leading to a bitter courtroom battle over property and money.
The dispute centred on a five-bedroom home in Sutton and hundreds of thousands of pounds received during divorce proceedings.
Court proceedings previously heard that after reaching a financial settlement connected to her divorce, Camilla arranged for funds to be transferred to her daughters, Sonia and Sharn Bains. The property she moved into was also registered in Sonia's name.
Camilla later sought to recover both the house and the money, arguing that she remained entitled to them. Her daughters rejected those claims, resulting in a highly contested legal fight.
During the original case at Central London County Court, Sonia accused her mother of being motivated by jealousy and resentment over her daughters' achievements. Camilla, on the other hand, alleged that the sisters had worked together to keep control of assets that rightfully belonged to her.
Judge Nigel Gerald ultimately ruled against Camilla in March last year.
The court concluded that she had knowingly arranged her affairs in a way that reduced the assets held in her own name and later attempted to reverse those decisions.
Evidence presented during the hearing included documents showing that she had surrendered her beneficial interest in the property and destroyed paperwork linked to ownership.
The judge found that those actions were taken while she was seeking to preserve access to means-tested welfare benefits.
The matter has now resurfaced in the High Court, where Camilla was granted permission to challenge part of the earlier ruling concerning the house.
Her lawyer, Lexa Hilliard, argued that the outcome of the previous case had left her client in a difficult financial position.
"It seems slightly odd and unfair that this woman has been left with nothing," she told the court.
The barrister explained that Camilla no longer owns assets and is dependent on state support.
The court heard that the family's financial disagreements stemmed from divorce proceedings that stretched over several years before finally being resolved in 2019.
Although the earlier judgment remains in place for now, the latest ruling means the long-running family dispute is not yet over.
The case will return to court for further consideration of the property issues that continue to divide the once close-knit family.
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