Two women who were both married to a bigamous millionaire in Las Vegas are now embroiled in a legal battle over his £1.8 million fortune. However, it has come to light that the estate of James Dinsdale, an accountant and World War Two history expert who passed away at 55 due to cancer, may have been completely drained.
Margaret Dinsdale and Dr. Victoria Fowell, who married Dinsdale in separate Las Vegas ceremonies five years apart, are at odds over the inheritance. After Dinsdale’s death, Margaret discovered that he was still legally married to Dr. Fowell at the time of their marriage, rendering her own marriage invalid and leaving her without automatic inheritance rights.
The conflict between the two women escalated when it was revealed that Dr. Fowell had not been removed as the estate executor, and accusations of mismanaging the estate were exchanged. The court was informed that the estate, initially valued at £1.8 million, might now have a negative value due to various factors, including the poor condition of properties and substantial withdrawals by both parties.
Amidst the dispute, allegations of asset depletion and financial mismanagement surfaced, leading to legal actions such as freezing orders and charging against properties. With both women lacking financial resources, the legal battle over the estate continues, with Ms. Dinsdale contemplating legal actions against Dr. Fowell to reclaim funds taken from the estate.
The court has decided to remove Dr. Fowell as the executor and imposed a charging order against her property. The full trial regarding Ms. Dinsdale’s claim for financial contribution from the estate is scheduled for next year.