Swedish editor Stieg Larsson is famous for his wildly popular Millennium trilogy (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”), published after his death in 2004. Over 46 million copies have been sold post humously and movies are in the works.
Alas, Mr. Larsson died intestate i.e. without leaving a will.
Before his death Larsson lived with his common-law wife of 32 years, Eva Gabrielsson, but on his death his estate by law went to his surviving father and younger brother, not to Eva. Larsson’s estate is now estimated to be worth over US$20 million, but his wife is entitled to none of it.
“Common law spouses” do not have inheritance rights in each other’s estates. What appears to be the case in Sweden also is the case in Ontario.
The simplest way to ensure common law spouses inherit from each other is to provide for it in a legal will. Failure to do so can result in tragic consequences, even after death.
Source: CBS News Sunday Morning – “The Mystery of Stieg Larsson”
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