Chadwick Boseman’s family is seeking the removal of his widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, as the administrator of his estate through a petition filed in a Los Angeles court. Boseman, renowned for his roles in “Black Panther,” “42,” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” passed away on August 28, 2020, following a private battle with colon cancer. He was 43 years old.
In a statement shared with CBC News, Boseman’s brothers, Derrick and Kevin Boseman, expressed their parents’ longstanding quest for clarity concerning matters related to their late brother’s estate, including his intellectual property and legacy. Legal documents obtained by CBC News revealed that Boseman’s brothers lodged a petition in Los Angeles on July 17 on behalf of their parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman.
The petition alleges that despite a court order for the distribution of the actor’s estate in 2022, Ledward has not adequately distributed assets and has retained exclusive control over certain business interests linked to the estate. Boseman passed away without a will, and a judge issued a final order on October 4, 2022, during probate proceedings to divide his estate equally between Ledward and Boseman’s parents, while also mandating the establishment of a long-term care insurance policy for his mother.
However, Boseman’s brothers claim that Ledward has prolonged the process, failing to fully transfer estate assets or complete required court paperwork almost four years after the 2022 order. They further assert that Ledward has independently managed estate affairs without consulting the family. The petition raises concerns about unaccounted money and assets, including SAG-AFTRA residual payments, royalties, image rights, intellectual property, and real estate, with alleged missing bank accounts amounting to nearly $3 million US.
The brothers allege that Ledward assumed sole control of Chadwick Boseman, Inc., did not involve the family in creating The Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts, and made business decisions regarding Boseman’s image and intellectual property without family input. They are requesting the court to hold Ledward accountable for delays, distribute remaining estate assets promptly, appoint forensic accountant Jason Rubin to investigate potential mismanagement, require Ledward to provide a complete account within 30 days, and prevent her from entering contracts involving Boseman’s image without family consent.
Moreover, the petition seeks an order for a shareholder meeting of Chadwick Boseman, Inc. within 30 days. A hearing is scheduled in Los Angeles for September 29. The brothers aim for transparency in the process to uphold court orders and safeguard Chadwick’s legacy. Ledward has not publicly addressed the allegations, and CBC News’ attempts to obtain comments from her attorneys remain unanswered.