Chadwick Boseman's Family Sues Widow Over Estate Distribution

Nearly six years after Chadwick Boseman's death, a legal dispute has emerged over the late actor's estate.

According to court documents filed in Los Angeles on July 17, Boseman's brothers, Derrick and Kevin Boseman, filed a lawsuit on behalf of their parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman, seeking to remove Boseman's widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, as administrator of the estate.

The filing alleges that Ledward has not distributed the estate as required by a 2022 court order. Under that ruling, Ledward was to receive 50% of the estate, while Boseman's parents were each entitled to 25%. The estate is said to include more than $3.8 million in assets and cash.

The lawsuit also claims Ledward failed to fully account for assets, including royalties, SAG-AFTRA residual payments, intellectual property rights, real estate, a previously undisclosed bank account, and other property. It further alleges she has maintained sole control of Chadwick Boseman, Inc. and prevented the family from pursuing business opportunities related to the actor's image and legacy.

The Boseman family argues that Ledward's lack of transparency raises concerns that assets may have been concealed from both the family and the court. They are asking the court to remove her as administrator and order the distribution of the estate.

Boseman died on Aug. 28, 2020, at age 43 after a private battle with colon cancer. He did not leave a will. The allegations in the lawsuit have not yet been addressed in court, and Ledward has not publicly responded to the claims.