The unusual labyrinth for the inheritance of Beatriz Sarlo: two new heirs are added in the midst of a judicial war

The inheritance dispute over the estate of Argentine intellectual Beatriz Sarlo has taken yet another unexpected turn, with two new claimants entering the fray just weeks after the case was already engulfed in legal battles involving dozens of relatives. The complex litigation, currently pending before Judge Fernando Cesari in the Civil Court No. 60, continues to unfold with mounting complexity, as more family members assert their rights to the substantial assets left behind by the late author and thinker. Gustavo Daniel and Jorge Daniel Sarlo Sabajanes, sons of Álvaro Edmundo, Beatriz Sarlo’s deceased cousin, have formally appeared before the judge, seeking to claim their share of the inheritance. They argue that their father, who died in May, had been entitled to a portion of the estate, which includes a bank account earning regular income from copyright royalties, two apartments in Buenos Aires, and other valuable assets. Their entry into the case adds further layers to an already intricate web of legal claims, as the court remains stalled pending responses from heirs of another relative, Ernestina Susana del Río, who passed away in October at the age of 87. Five of her grandchildren, legally eligible to join the proceedings, have yet to file their claims, potentially expanding the number of interested parties even further. Among the existing claimants, the conflict initially centered on a dramatic confrontation between the ex-husband of Sarlo and the building manager entrusted with caring for her cat. The dispute began months before her death, when she wrote a handwritten will ensuring the care of Nini, her beloved cat, by leaving her apartment on Calle Hidalgo to the building manager, Melanio Alberto Meza López. However, this arrangement quickly became contentious when Alberto Sato, Sarlo’s former husband, emerged as a key player. Though they separated decades ago and he later moved to Chile, the lack of a formal divorce meant he retained legal standing as a spouse and heir under Argentine succession laws. Sato challenged the validity of the handwritten will, leading to a fierce legal battle. Initially, his claims were excluded by the lawyers representing Meza López, who argued that Sato had lost his "hereditary vocation" due to the long separation. However, Sato successfully appealed and was reinstated in the succession process. Meanwhile, the court ordered a handwriting analysis of the will, comparing its script to known signatures of Sarlo, including those found in dedications to filmmaker Rafael Filippelli, in order to verify authenticity. As the legal landscape continues to shift, the involvement of additional family members underscores the magnitude of the financial stakes. With the potential inclusion of the five grandchildren of Ernestina Susana del Río, along with three second cousins (Diego, Dalmacio, and Martín Ghersi), the number of active participants in the case could grow significantly. This ongoing expansion reflects the broader challenge of resolving a legacy that spans multiple generations and legal jurisdictions, all vying for a share of the considerable wealth tied to Sarlo’s literary contributions.