Elliott Smith's partner sued his estate for lifetime support, and a talent-agent law voided their whole agreement

Elliott Smith died at 34 of a stab wound to the chest in the home he shared with Jennifer Chiba. The coroner's report said some findings were "atypical of suicide" and raised the possibility of homicide. Smith had moved into Chiba's apartment on 26 August 2002. On 30 July 2004 she sued the estate's administrator, Marta Greenwald, in Los Angeles Superior Court. She alleged an oral agreement: they would share all property equally, she would give up her career to keep house and manage his affairs, and he would support her for life. She also claimed 15 percent of his concert earnings for booking his shows. She sought more than $1 million. In November 2004 she dropped the booking claim. Chiba had testified that she helped arrange all 20 of his engagements after August 2002 and negotiated his fees. She had no talent agency license. On 16 November 2005 the State Labor Commissioner ruled the August 2002 agreement "void from its inception, in its entirety." In October 2007 a split Court of Appeal panel upheld the ruling 2 to 1. Smith's parents control his pre-1998 recordings and posthumous releases. In 2017 his archivist said release decisions are "down to [Elliott Smith's] parents."