John Freeman, 76, has lost his NSW Supreme Court bid for a share of his late father Kenneth’s $1.3 million estate. The court upheld Kenneth’s decision to leave everything to John’s younger brother Mark, who had lived with and cared for both parents for years.

Justice David Hammerschlag rejected John’s claims that he was destitute and that his father had misunderstood his financial circumstances. The judge cited John’s repeated trips to Thailand, low rent there, car ownership and Age Pension, while also finding that he had seldom visited his father and had contributed little to his care. John’s failed claim incurred around $171,000 in legal costs, nearly twice the $50,000 rental provision he sought.