Nearly six years after the death of actor Chadwick Boseman, a legal battle has emerged over his estate as his parents and brothers seek to remove his widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, as administrator, according to court documents filed on July 17 in Los Angeles and reported by Page Six. The filing alleges that Ledward failed to distribute assets—including more than $3.8 million in cash and stock—as ordered by a court in 2022, denying the late actor’s family closure and participation in estate decisions.
Brothers Allege Failure to Distribute Assets and Rights
Chadwick Boseman died at age 43 on August 28, 2020, without a will, following a private battle with colon cancer. According to documents filed by his brothers, Derrick and Kevin Boseman on behalf of their parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman, Ledward inherited 50% of the estate and was required to distribute the remaining half equally between the actor’s parents, granting each 25%. Derrick and Kevin claim in the docs that Ledward has still not distributed the estate nearly four years after the initial court orders.
The filing asserts that Ledward continues to exert unilateral control over the assets. Furthermore, the brothers allege that Ledward failed to fully account for royalties, residuals, intellectual property rights, real property, and a previously undisclosed bank account.
Contested Intellectual Property and Residual Payments
According to the legal documents, Ledward failed to officially account for numerous residual payments from SAG-AFTRA dating from 2020 to the present. Derrick and Kevin claim that rights to the late actor’s image and intellectual property properly belong to his heirs, but are instead managed by Chadwick Boseman, Inc., a corporate entity completely controlled by Ledward.
The brothers allege that Ledward blocked them from pursuing business opportunities that could benefit their elderly parents. The filing states that Ledward’s lack of transparency creates the appearance that she is concealing assets from the family and the court, according to Page Six. Page Six reached out to Ledward’s legal representation for comment, while attorneys for Derrick and Kevin did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Did you know? Chadwick Boseman died without a formal will, which led to the court-ordered division of his estate among his widow and parents back in 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who filed the lawsuit against Taylor Simone Ledward?
Chadwick Boseman’s brothers, Derrick and Kevin Boseman, filed the lawsuit on behalf of their parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman, according to court documents reported by Page Six.
What are the primary allegations in the court filing?
The filing alleges that Taylor Simone Ledward failed to distribute over $3.8 million in estate assets as ordered by a court in 2022, and failed to fully account for residuals, intellectual property, and certain assets.
What was the original court-ordered division of the estate?
Taylor Simone Ledward inherited 50% of the estate, while the remaining 50% was ordered to be split equally between Chadwick Boseman’s parents, giving each 25%.
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