Some of us in Ormond Beach might have seen the new movie "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo." This adaptation of Swedish novelist Steig Larsson's first installment of the Millennium Trilogy has been hotly anticipated and recently earned its star, Rooney Mara, an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

The plot of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" does have a little to do with inheritance and estates, but the more relevant estate planning story comes from Larsson's own life.

Larsson died unexpectedly of a heart attack when he was 50. By then, his books had become a hit in Sweden, but were not yet the global sensation they went on to become, so he never lived to see them win audiences the world over.

Sadly, Larsson died without a will. That means his estate, including the $40 million or so the Millennium Trilogy has raked in, would go to his father and brother, since they are his next of kin.

Unfortunately, that leaves out his girlfriend of 32 years, Eva Gabrielsson. Although the two lived together, they never married and since there is no will, Gabrielsson does not automatically receive anything.

Gabrielsson and Larsson's family have been fighting bitterly ever since Larsson died over who should get what. It's a sad ending for what should otherwise be seen as a huge success story

It isn't only bestselling authors or millionaires who need to think ahead. Disagreements over your wishes can cause a lot of problems if you die unexpectedly. It may not be a pleasant task, but spending a little time making an estate plan so your wishes can be respected may save a lot of heartache and trouble in the future.

Source: Forbes, "Etta James, Others Remind of Need for Estate Planning in 2012," Andy and Danielle Mayoras, Jan. 24, 2012