He Was Called "The Son I Never Had"—But a Last-Minute Will Written on His Deathbed Has Been Tossed Out by the Court
If you think getting your affairs in order before Christmas is stressful, spare a thought for the late Andrew Young.
Andrew was a 68-year-old disability pensioner from Morisset, NSW. He had a bushy Father Christmas beard, a love for fishing, and a very complicated estate battle that just wrapped up in the NSW Supreme Court.
The case, Corbould v Gay [2026] NSWSC 385, is a wild ride involving a forged-looking will, a jailbird best friend, a "situationship," and almost $600,000 in legal fees. Let’s break it down.
The Setup: The 2010 Will vs. The “Deathbed” Will
Andrew died on Christmas Day 2021. Back in 2010, he signed a valid Will leaving his $1.15 million Morisset property to his cousins.
However, his 50-year-old housemate, Micheal Gay, produced a new document: a Will dated 23 December 2021—just two days before Andrew died. This "Purported Will" left everything (the house, the dog "Minnie," the bank account) to Micheal.
The lawsuit was a showdown between the cousins (represented by executor Adrian Corbould) and Micheal.
The "Son" He Never Had?
Micheal claimed he wasn't just a tenant. He met Andrew at a Salvation Army rehab (Miracle Haven) in 2013. They moved in together. According to Micheal and several witnesses, Andrew treated him like family.
The testimony: Friends said Andrew declared, "This is like having a family" and "Micheal is the son I never had."
The care: Micheal said he cooked, cleaned, mowed the massive lawn, and eventually showered Andrew and cleaned him up when he soiled himself during his cancer battle.
The problem: Andrew’s cousins said the relationship was "opaque" and that Andrew was actually scared of Micheal at one point.
The Big Red Flag: Where Were the Witnesses?
Here is where Micheal’s case fell apart.
Initially, Micheal swore affidavits saying that on 23 December 2021, his girlfriend (Kylie) and his stepson (Travis) were at the hospital and witnessed Andrew sign the new Will.
But during the court hearing, Micheal admitted that was a lie.
He confessed that Kylie and Travis were not present at the hospital. He said he had a "guilty conscience." The judge noted that Micheal "deliberately gave false evidence." Yikes.
The Signature Didn't Look Right
To make matters worse, the court hired a handwriting expert (a forensic document examiner) to look at Andrew’s signature on the Purported Will.
The expert found that by late 2021, Andrew was extremely sick, his hands were shaky, and his signatures had become simple and degraded.
But the signature on the Purported Will from December 23? It was complex, fluent, and skilful. The expert said this was highly suspicious and supported the idea that someone else signed it. While the judge didn't technically declare it a "forgery," he was certainly not satisfied Andrew signed it.
The Hospital Records Sealed the Deal
You would think a dying man making a last-minute Will would be a serious event. But the hospital records showed that on the evening of December 23:
Andrew was drowsy and incontinent.
He had a seizure-like episode.
He was on heavy painkillers (Ordine).
A social worker noted he was unable to be woken to discuss the Will.
The nurses recorded that Micheal said they would "fill out the will pack tonight" and ask the social worker to review it tomorrow to help with witnessing. The judge found it highly unlikely that a valid, signed Will was created in that short window of chaos.
The Verdict: The Purported Will is Dead
The judge threw out the December 2021 Will. The 2010 Will stands. The cousins win the probate battle.
You’d think that would be the end of Micheal’s story. But it wasn't.
The Twist: Micheal Still Gets $350,000
Even though Micheal tried to pass off a dodgy Will, the judge still gave him a massive win on the "Family Provision" claim.
Under NSW law, even if you aren't in a Will, you can ask the court for money if you were in a "close personal relationship" or dependent on the deceased.
The judge ruled that even though Micheal lied about the Will, he was eligible. Why?
Close Personal Relationship: They lived together. Micheal provided domestic support (cooking, cleaning) and personal care (showering, helping him to the bathroom).
Dependency: Andrew gave Micheal a roof over his head for 8 years.
The judge found that leaving Micheal nothing was inadequate. Considering Micheal is 50, on a disability pension, and has nowhere to go, the court ordered the estate to pay him a lump sum of $350,000 to help him buy a home.
The Sad Math: Where Did the Money Go?
This is the real tragedy of the case. The Morisset property is worth about $1.15 million.
But the legal fees?
Plaintiff's costs: ~$350,000
Defendant's costs: ~$250,000
Total legal bill: ~$600,000.
That is more than half the value of the house. The judge was visibly frustrated, calling this a "Pyrrhic victory" (a win that destroys the prize).
The Bottom Line
This case is a perfect storm of family drama and legal risk.
Don't fake a Will. Seriously. The court has handwriting experts and hospital records. You will get caught.
The "Son I Never Had" argument works. Even though Micheal lied, his 8 years of living with and caring for Andrew was worth $350,000 in the judge's eyes.
Get a lawyer. If Andrew had just updated his Will properly when he met Micheal, he could have avoided two years of court battles and saved his estate $600,000 in fees.
What do you think? Did the judge get it right by giving Micheal $350,000 even though he lied about the Will?
