Chadwick Boseman’s family files legal challenge against his widow over estate administration

Boseman died without a will in 2020 at the age of 43 following a private, years-long battle with colon cancer

Chadwick Boseman’s family has launched a legal challenge over the administration of the late actor’s estate, nearly six years after his death, according to court documents.

The Black Panther star's brothers, Derrick and Kevin Boseman, have filed a lawsuit on behalf of their parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman, against the actor’s widow, Taylor Simone Ledward.

The filing asks the court to remove Ledward as administrator of the estate and to order the distribution of assets to Boseman’s parents.

According to the court documents, the family alleges that Ledward has not distributed the estate, valued at more than $3.8 million, despite a court order issued in 2022.

The filing states that Ledward inherited 50% of the estate, while the remaining half was to be divided equally between Leroy and Carolyn Boseman.

“Nearly four years later, [Taylor] has still not distributed the estate,” the documents read.

The filing further alleges, “Instead, [Taylor] continues to exert unilateral control over [Chadwick’s] estate, denying [Chadwick’s] family long overdue closure or participation in decision-making regarding matters affecting Leroy and Carolyn’s interests in [Chadwick’s] estate.”

The lawsuit also claims Ledward “failed to fully account” for assets, including royalties, residual payments, intellectual property rights, image rights, real property and a previously undisclosed bank account.

It further alleges that she “failed to officially account for … numerous residual payments from SAG-AFTRA dating between 2020 and the present”.

The documents also state that Ledward “blocked” the family from “pursuing lucrative business opportunities that might benefit [Chadwick’s] elderly parents” and allege her “lack of transparency” “creates the appearance that she is concealing assets from [Chadwick’s] family and from the Court.”

Boseman died without a will on August 18, 2020 at the age of 43 following a private, years-long battle with colon cancer.