The partner of a deceased designer has sued over an estate worth more than £1million, telling the High Court his duty of care for his dog prevents him from working.
Tibor Matyas, both the romantic and business partner of late fashion designer Chris Liu, launched legal action against Mr Liu's family, claiming he requires maintenance payments from the estate to live.
The 49-year-old told the court he was financially reliant on Mr Liu during their relationship, and now finds himself without work, while facing ongoing pet care expenses.
He argued his dependence on Mr Liu means he should receive "reasonable provision" beyond what he has already inherited.
Mr Liu, a high-profile designer who graduated from the London College of Fashion, launched his career creating womenswear, with designs stocked by high-end retailers such as Harvey Nichols.
His work reportedly attracted high-profile customers, with both Kylie Minogue and Sade among those said to have endorsed his creations.
The designer later shifted his focus to specialising in men's bags, building a label called Chris & Tibor alongside Mr Matyas, who handled management and marketing duties.
Mr Liu passed away from cancer in 2017 at the age of 47, leaving behind an estate valued in excess of £1million - since becoming the subject of the ongoing legal battle.
A flat in Dalston, east London, is at the centre of the legal dispute
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Following Liu's death, Mr Matyas inherited a jointly owned east London flat valued at £470,000, and was also left a quarter share in a second property in the capital.
Meanwhile, the designer's family in China received the remainder of the estate.
A bitter seven-year dispute ensued between Mr Liu's partner and parents, De Heng Liu and Xuan Rong Yang, and his brother Pu Liu.
The family, who have not attended the trial in person, are contesting Mr Matyas' claims through their lawyers, arguing they provided most of the original funding for the property purchases.
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Estate administrator Peter Daniel is also opposing Mr Matyas's application for further provision.
During the hearing, Judge Andrew Scott questioned why the designer's partner could not secure employment, telling him: "You seem to be an intelligent, capable and together person now, and it's not entirely clear to me why you can't find employment?"
Mr Matyas replied: "I am also alone and looking after my dog, and I have to take out the dog."
Kylie Minogue and Sade were among those said to have endorsed Mr Liu's fashion creations
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His barrister, Aidan Briggs, informed the court that his client spends £3,800 each year on pet food, veterinary bills and kennelling.
Mr Matyas told the judge, who reserved the ruling, that approaching 50 also made returning to business difficult.
He said: "The only employment I can find is low-end, and would be full-time, which would take up all my time.
"There would be no exit from that circle, because I would be working for survival."
The court heard Mr Matyas was also facing significant debt, including legal bills, and wants his financial needs to be met from the estate through a regular income stream, rather than a one-off lump sum payment.
He insisted that he understood the properties were jointly owned, that they lived together "as though they were a married couple," and cited how all business ventures were in tandem.
Mr Matyas was informed he must "show on the balance of probabilities that he lived with the deceased as though they were a married couple for the whole of the period from April 10, 2015," and "must show that the will failed in all the circumstances, looked at today, to make reasonable financial provision for him".
Mr Liu's fortune has been valued at around £1,061,368 - although much of that sum would have been consumed by the legal costs of the dispute.