Two wives, one millionaire liar: Bigamist’s £1.8m fortune sparks catfight in court
Two wives are locked in a legal battle over their bigamist husband’s £1.8 million fortune after he secretly married them both.
Accountant James Dinsdale died of cancer at the age of 55 in October 2020, leaving his second wife, Margaret Dinsdale, to handle his estate.
But the 41-year-old beautician then found out James was still legally married to his first wife Victoria Fowell.
The discovery meant her marriage was "void" - leaving Mrs Dinsdale with no automatic right to inherit the £1.8million fortune.
Both women are now battling at the High Court after Mrs Dinsdale claimed she deserved a share of the cash because she married James "in good faith".
The court heard James married Dr Fowell - a cosmetic dentist - in 2012 after whisking her off to Las Vegas.
Margaret Dinsdale discovered her late husband was already marriedCredit: Champion News Service
He was still married to first wife Victoria FowellCredit: Supplied by Champion News
But the pair never got divorced and he wed Mrs Dinsdale five years later at a Vegas chapel just 600m from his first wedding location.
Mrs Dinsdale’s lawyer said she had no clue James was still married and believed the money would be shared between her and her husband’s son William under intestacy rules.
Jonathan Davey KC added: "She understood the marriage between the deceased and Dr Fowell to have ended some time prior to the relationship between the deceased and the claimant beginning.
"We have no idea what James’ state of mind was, perhaps he didn’t realise he wasn’t divorced.
"Margaret’s assertion is that she believed the deceased to be unmarried and already divorced when she married him in good faith."
Mrs Dinsdale has made a claim for "reasonable provision" from James’ estate under the 1975 Inheritance Act, amounting to at least half of his £1.8million.
The bid has been brought against both Dr Fowell and James’ 28-year-old son William.
Mr Davey said James and Mrs Dinsdale had a "loving relationship" and that she looked after him "24 hours a day" after he was diagnosed with cancer.
He added: "She and James had a relatively lavish lifestyle, which was funded by his wealth and she was entirely financially dependent on the deceased," he said.
"Dr Fowell and William Dinsdale were not being financially maintained by the deceased at the time of his death."
The court heard Mrs Dinsdale has already reportedly received £375,000 "from the estate or in sums derived from James" but her lawyer claims the amount is £20,000.
High Court judge Master James Brightwell allocated the cash-strapped second wife £50,000 from the estate to help cover her bills and contribute towards hefty lawyers’ bills as the case progresses.
He directed there should now be a future hearing focusing on how James’ estate should be divided up between his two wives and son.
Under the Inheritance Act, payouts to those treated as a spouse or civil partner are higher than to unmarried partners of a deceased person.
James Dinsdale died of cancer in 2020Credit: Supplied by Champion News
Technology & Business Editor
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