Nearly six years after the passing of actor Chadwick Boseman, his family is engaged in a legal dispute over his financial legacy. Kevin and Derrick Boseman have filed a petition in a Los Angeles court to remove the «Black Panther» star’s widow, Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman, as the administrator of his estate.
The brothers allege Ledward Boseman has failed to properly distribute assets and is withholding funds rightfully owed to the actor’s parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman.
Chadwick Boseman died of colon cancer in August 2020 at age 43. Because he passed away without a will, a judge issued a final order in 2022 directing how his assets should be divided. Under the ruling, Ledward Boseman was entitled to 50% of the estate, whilst his parents were awarded the remaining half.
However, Kevin and Derrick claim their sister-in-law has ignored the court directive. According to the legal filing, Ledward Boseman continues to exercise unilateral control over the assets and has denied the family any participation in decision-making.
Unresolved assets and royalties
The actor left behind a substantial estate comprising multimillion-dollar bank accounts, property, investments and lucrative intellectual property rights.
The petition states that Ledward Boseman has not transferred a $40,000 long-term care insurance policy to her mother-in-law. Additionally, the brothers accuse her of failing to account for post-death SAG-AFTRA residuals, royalties and other unclaimed property. They argue this lack of transparency creates the appearance that she is concealing assets from the family and the court.
By allegedly keeping the estate open and undivided, the brothers say Ledward Boseman has prevented Chadwick’s elderly parents from accessing their funds and pursuing business opportunities linked to their son’s legacy. They also claim she is currently the sole individual profiting from his name and image.
Demands for a forensic accountant
In response to the alleged mismanagement, Kevin and Derrick are asking the court to hold Ledward Boseman in contempt for disobeying the 2022 distribution order. They want her permanently replaced by Jason Rubin, a private professional fiduciary and forensic accountant.
Furthermore, the petition requests a full financial accounting of the estate within 30 days. The brothers are seeking a court mandate to block Ledward Boseman from signing any major commercial contracts involving her late husband’s estate without the family’s direct approval. They also want her to cover their legal fees and court costs.
Ledward Boseman, who married the actor just days before his death, has not publicly commented on the litigation. Throughout the past few years, she has frequently represented his estate at award ceremonies and public events, focusing her public remarks on honouring his artistic contributions and personal resilience.
