Wives at war over bigamist husband’s £1.8m fortune after he married both of them secretly

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The £1.8 million wealth left by accountant James Dinsdale, who secretly married both women before passing away from cancer in October 2020 at the age of 55, is the subject of a legal dispute between two women.

After James’ death, Margaret Dinsdale, 41, who thought she was his legal wife, learned that he was still legally wed to Victoria Fowell, his first wife. Because of the disclosure, her marriage was deemed “void,” and she was not automatically entitled to inherit his property.

Now that the case has gone to the High Court, Margaret is arguing that she married James “in good faith” and is requesting a portion of the fortune.

On a trip to Las Vegas in 2012, James married cosmetic dentist Dr. Fowell. But they never got divorced. Only 600 meters from the location of his first wedding, he married Margaret five years later in a church in Vegas.

According to Jonathan Davey KC, Margaret’s attorney, she expected that James’ assets would be divided between her and James’ son William in accordance with intestacy laws and was unaware that he was still married.

“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,” Davey said.

“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.”

Margaret is now seeking “reasonable provision” from James’ estate under the 1975 Inheritance Act, claiming at least half of the £1.8 million. The legal claim has been brought against Dr Fowell and James’ 28-year-old son William. Mr Davey described the couple’s relationship as loving and said Margaret cared for James “24 hours a day” after his cancer diagnosis.

“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.”

Conflicting claims about money Margaret had already received were heard by the court. Her lawyer maintained that the actual amount was only £20,000, despite reports that she had received £375,000 “from the estate or in sums derived from James.”

Margaret has been given £50,000 from the estate by High Court judge Master James Brightwell to aid with her living expenses and legal fees while the matter is pending.

In order to decide how James’ estate should be split between Dr. Fowell, Margaret, and William, he ordered a future hearing. People who are considered spouses or civil partners under the Inheritance Act are entitled to larger benefits than unmarried partners.

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