Nearly six years after the death of beloved Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, a new legal dispute has emerged over the administration of his estate.
According to newly filed court documents, Chadwick’s brothers, Kevin and Derrick Boseman, have petitioned a Los Angeles court to remove his widow, Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman, as the administrator of the late actor’s estate. The brothers allege that she has failed to properly distribute estate assets and has mismanaged the estate since taking over the role following Boseman’s death in 2020.
Boseman died at the age of 43 after a private four-year battle with colon cancer. Because he did not leave a will, California probate law determined how his estate would be divided. In 2022, a court ruled that Ledward would receive 50% of the estate, while Chadwick’s parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman, would receive the remaining 50%.
However, Kevin and Derrick claim that nearly four years after that ruling, the estate has still not been fully distributed. In their petition, they allege that their parents have been left out of major decisions regarding the estate and have not received assets they are entitled to, including a reported $40,000 long-term care insurance policy intended for their mother. They also claim there are unaccounted-for assets, including royalties, residual payments, intellectual property rights, and an undisclosed bank account.
The filing further accuses Ledward of exercising complete control over the estate without transparency and alleges she has prevented the family from pursuing business opportunities that could benefit Chadwick’s legacy and support his elderly parents. The brothers are asking the court to compel a full accounting of the estate, require Ledward to explain why she should not be held in contempt for allegedly failing to comply with previous court orders, and remove her as administrator. They have requested that professional fiduciary and forensic accountant Jason Rubin be appointed to oversee the estate instead.
As of now, Ledward has not publicly responded to the allegations or the petition. The claims made in the court filing have not been proven, and the matter will ultimately be decided by the court.
The legal battle marks a painful new chapter for the family of the acclaimed actor, whose performances in Black Panther, 42, Marshall, Get on Up, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom left an enduring legacy in Hollywood. Boseman continues to be celebrated not only for his extraordinary talent but also for the grace and courage he displayed while privately battling cancer.
