Chadwick Boseman’s brothers seek removal of widow as estate administrator

Derrick Boseman and Kevin Boseman, the brothers of late actor Chadwick Boseman, have asked a Los Angeles court to remove the actor’s widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, as administrator of his estate, alleging that she has not fully distributed the assets as ordered by the court.

According to a petition filed on Friday in the Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of Chadwick Boseman’s parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman, Derrick Boseman and Kevin Boseman claim Ledward has failed to comply with a 2022 probate order directing her to distribute the remaining portion of the actor’s estate.

Chadwick Boseman died in August 2020 without leaving a will. Under California law, court documents state that Taylor Simone Ledward inherited 50 per cent of the estate, while his parents each inherited 25 per cent.

A probate court ordered Ledward on October 4, 2022, to distribute the remaining share of the estate to Chadwick Boseman’s parents.

In the petition, Derrick Boseman and Kevin Boseman alleged that, “Nearly four years later, Respondent has still not distributed the estate, nor has she filed a petition for discharge with receipts as required … Instead, Respondent continues to exert unilateral control over Decedent’s estate, denying Decedent’s family long overdue closure or participation in decision-making regarding matters affecting Leroy and Carolyn’s interests in Decedent’s estate.”

The petition further claims the delay has had financial and emotional consequences for their parents.

“By failing to distribute Decedent’s estate, Respondent deprives Leroy and Carolyn of financial assets at a vulnerable age when such support is most critical. Moreover, the needless continuation of these proceedings denies Decedent’s family closure and causes emotional distress.”

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The filing asks the court to require Ledward to explain why she should not be held in contempt for allegedly failing to comply with the 2022 court order. 

It also seeks an order compelling her to distribute the remaining estate assets, including “royalties and residuals, image and intellectual property rights, real property, a previously undisclosed bank account at CNB, and other personal property.”

In addition, the brothers are requesting that Ledward be removed as estate administrator and replaced by a private professional fiduciary and forensic accountant to investigate any alleged estate mismanagement and “any unaccounted-for assets.”

The petition also asks the court to direct Ledward to provide a full accounting of the estate, including SAG-AFTRA residuals, royalties and other assets, arguing that the family cannot determine whether the estate has been properly administered without those records.

ABC News reported that it had contacted representatives for Taylor Simone Ledward and Derrick Boseman and Kevin Boseman for comment.

Chadwick Boseman, best known for portraying King T’Challa in Black Panther, died on August 28, 2020, at the age of 43 after a private battle with colon cancer.

(ABC)