Partner and Family of Author Stieg Larsson Battle Over Estate, Including Laptop Containing Possible Manuscript

Author Stieg Larsson died in 2004.  Siince his death, three manuscripts left behind by the writer have been published and have made his estate very wealthy.  His partner of 32 years and his family are fighting over Larsson’s estate, largely because Larsson did not leave a valid will. 

• Larsson and his partner, Eva, never married because Larsson feared she could be linked to his anti-fascists works.
• A 1977 will left Larsson’s assets to a local Communist Workers League; however, the will is not valid because it is not witnessed.
• Larsson’s estate, estimated at more than £20m, has passed to his family. 
• Larsson’s father and brother recently offered Eva £1.75m to settle the estate dispute.  
• Eva claims that Larsson’s laptop contains a 200-page manuscript for a sequel book, and she has declined an offer from Larsson’s family to trade the laptop for the half of the couple’s apartment owned by Larsson’s estate. 

See Esther Addley, The Girl in the £20m Inheritance Battle – partner of late novelist Stieg Larsson fights for share of fortune, Guardian, Nov. 2, 2009. 

Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.