Widow, 75, in battle with stepsons over farmer’s estate amid claims of ‘odd’ changes to his will before he died of Parkinson’s
David Powell's sons claim he was not mentally fit when he changed will to benefit second wife Ailsa
A FARMER's widow is at war with her stepsons over their dad's £250,000 estate after they claimed there were "odd" updates to his will shortly before he died.
David Powell died aged 84 in 2012 after a battle with Parkinson's Disease, leaving half his money to second wife Ailsa, 75.
The other half was split between his sons Richard, 54, and Jonathan, 55 - who claim their stepmum is entitled to no more than the £2,000 she was left in an earlier version of his will.
The sons claim their dad's disease was so far advanced that he could not fully understand what he was doing when he changed his will to give Ailsa a larger share.
And they say it was their stepmum who was the driving force behind the new will, at a time when their father's health was failing.
The battle has reached Central London County Court, which heard lawyers' bills are likely to reach £200,000 - almost as much as the estate they are fighting over.
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Mark Dencer, representing Ailsa Williamson Powell, criticised the "financially comfortable" sons for taking the case to court.
He said: "It is submitted this is not a case of genuine concerns reasonably maintained, but of attempted self-enrichment should the widow lack the stomach or means to fight."
Keen bird-watcher and farm manager Mr Powell made a will shortly after he married Ailsa in 2003, leaving the bulk of his estate to his sons and just £2,000 to his bride.
But he made another in 2008 splitting the estate three ways, and then another in 2009, in which Ailsa got half and his sons a quarter each, after small gifts to a church, a Parkinson's charity and grandchildren.
Financial adviser Richard Powell, of Wandsworth, south London, and his brother Jonathan, 55, who lives in America, claim their father did not have the mental capacity to change his will.
Their father had told them at the time of his marriage that the couple's finances would remain "entirely separate", their barrister Noel Dilworth said.
He added a £5,000 gift to a church was "odd" since Mr Powell was not religious, and it was "no coincidence" that it was his widow's church that benefited.
Mrs Williamson Powell, of Littlebourne near Canterbury, denied she was the driving force behind the new wills.
She told the judge: "It was nothing to do with me, it was David's decision."
She added: "He was perfectly able to understand his own affairs.
"That was one thing he could understand and manage. He managed all the financial affairs for both of us."
Most of Mr Powell's estate derives from the sale of rental property in Sandwich, Kent, the court heard.
The hearing continues.
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