Escort's kids ordered to pay Pratt costs

The children of former escort Madison Ashton have been ordered to pay costs to the estate of their mother's late lover, billionaire Richard Pratt.

It comes as yet another blow for the two children after they unsuccessfully contested a slice of Mr Pratt's estate.

Their mother first took the estate to court in 2012, claiming he had promised in 2003 to set up a $5 million trust for the two kids as part of an agreement for Ms Ashton to become his full-time mistress.

Ms Ashton lost that bid, with a court finding her acceptance in 2005 of $100,000 and a car was done in full satisfaction of the original claim.

When she later sought to appeal that loss, her two children entered the fray as cross-claimants.

They argued that in accepting the 2005 money from Mr Pratt, their mother had breached her fiduciary duty to them.

But their case, and that of their mother, was crushed in February when the Court of Appeal upheld the 2012 decision, finding Mr Pratt's 2003 promises did not constitute a legally binding agreement.

Ms Ashton was ordered to pay the legal costs of Pratt's estate.

Jeanne Pratt was also allowed to apply for costs against Ms Ashton's children.

In rejecting the children's appeal against this order on Thursday, the Court of Appeal held the underlying basis of the children's claim had been rejected.

In a unanimous written decision, the court found the children had "actively participated" in the proceedings and supported their mother's claims in court.

It also rejected the argument that Mr Pratt's words had started the entire issue and that his estate should therefore foot the bill.