"Almost a year after department store family matriarch June Hordern died at 90, her lover, son and daughter-in-law sat in the NSW Supreme Court yesterday, all seeking a bigger slice of her multi-million-dollar estate.

In her will, Mrs Hordern named her grandsons, Anthony and Samuel, as the residual beneficiaries of the estate, which is worth as much as $20 million.

Mrs Hordern's son, Samuel - the boys' father - was to receive $100,000, plus the right to live in the six-bedroom family mansion at 14 Ginahgulla Road, Bellevue Hill, at the trustee's discretion. His second wife, Joy, was to receive nothing.

June Hordern's live-in lover of 23 years, 82-year-old Mr John Osborne Bovill, was to receive an annuity of $30,000.

Not satisfied with their share of the fortune, Mr Bovill and Mr and Mrs Hordern sued the trustee of the estate, Mrs Hordern's other grandson, Mr Rupert Hordern Myer, under the Family Provisions Act.

The court heard Mr Bovill moved in with Mrs Hordern in 1976 after his business collapsed and lived with her until her death. Mr John Timbs, QC, for Mr Bovill, said he required a three-bedroom house in the eastern suburbs so he could care for Mrs Hordern's three cats. He also needed a housekeeper to tend his daily needs and a $30,000 motor vehicle.

"The evidence will be that my client has never cooked for himself ... and he is probably too old now to start doing cooking courses," Mr Timbs said. "There was some faint suggestion that he is able to use a microwave, but beyond that I certainly wouldn't trust him with a skillet.

"I'm not submitting that he can't make a bed but he hasn't made a bed or looked after himself for the period of his life."

Mrs Hordern, who died in October last year, is the daughter-in-law of the late Sir Samuel Hordern, who was the great-grandson of department store owner Anthony Hordern.

In 1983, Samuel and Joy Hordern and their two children, Anthony and Samuel, now aged 19 and 18, moved into the eastern wing of the family house, where they still live. Anthony and Samuel are to receive the estate when they turn 30. It is valued between $12 million and $20 million.

But the court heard the trustee has the right to order Samuel and Joy Hordern to pay occupancy and maintenance fees to live in the house. They want the right to live there for the rest of their lives.

Their lawyer, Mr John Whittle, said Mr Hordern, who has debts of $70,000 due to a number of failed business ventures, and his wife, who has assets of less than $800,000, including a small terrace house in an inner-city suburb and a beach house, would be unable to meet the fees if they were imposed.

After adjourning for private negotiations yesterday, lawyers indicated they were on the verge of a settlement. The hearing resumes at 11am today."

The outcome is not known - RM