Chadwick Boseman Family Sues Widow Over Late Actor Multimillion-Dollar Estate

The brothers of late Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman have initiated a legal dispute against his widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, in Los Angeles Superior Court (LASC). Derrick Boseman and Kevin Boseman filed the petition on behalf of their elderly parents, Leroy Boseman and Carolyn Boseman.

The legal filing asks the court to remove Ledward as the administrator of the late actor's estate. The family claims she has failed to properly distribute remaining assets nearly four years after an official probate distribution order was issued.

Chadwick Boseman died in August 2020 at age 43 following a private four-year battle with colon cancer. Because he passed away without leaving a will, probate court proceedings were required to handle his holdings.

In October 2022, a judge ordered the estate assets to be divided evenly, with 50 percent designated for Ledward and 25 percent each to his parents. That initial order valued the inventoried estate at approximately 3.8 million United States Dollars (USD).

However, the petition filed by his brothers alleges that the inventoried total was incomplete. They argue that several assets, including Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) residual payments, were omitted from accounting.

The court filings also cite unassigned royalties, real estate holdings, and image rights. Furthermore, the family points toward previously undisclosed bank accounts containing nearly 3 million dollars.

According to the suit, Ledward has maintained sole control over Chadwick Boseman, Inc. (CBI). The corporate entity manages the late star's likeness and intellectual property, which the family claims continues to generate revenue without their consultation.

Derrick and Kevin Boseman stated that their parents have sought clarity regarding their son's legacy for years. They noted that the ongoing financial delays have caused hardship for their parents, who require critical support.

The petition requests that the court compel Ledward to provide a complete financial accounting within 30 days. It also seeks an injunction preventing her from executing future contracts involving the actor's likeness without written family consent.

The family has requested that forensic accountant Jason Rubin be appointed to replace Ledward as administrator. They hope an independent forensic examination will resolve outstanding accounting questions.

Ledward had previously served as sole administrator and waived her administrative fees during earlier court proceedings. Representatives for Ledward have not yet issued a public response or comment regarding the recent petition.

The legal proceedings remain active in California, where the court will determine whether to grant the requested removal and order a full audit.