Chadwick Boseman’s family is seeking to oust Taylor Simone Ledward, his widow, from her role as the administrator of his estate through a legal petition in Los Angeles. Boseman, renowned for his performances as King T’Challa in “Black Panther,” as well as in “42” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” passed away on August 28, 2020, following a discreet battle with colon cancer that spanned four years. He was 43 years old.
In a declaration shared with CBC News, Boseman’s siblings, Derrick and Kevin Boseman, expressed their parents’ long-standing quest for clarity on matters pertaining to their late brother’s estate, encompassing intellectual property and his legacy.
Legal records obtained by CBC News reveal that Boseman’s brothers lodged a petition in Los Angeles on July 17 on behalf of their parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman. They assert that despite a court decree for the distribution of the actor’s estate in 2022, Ledward has allegedly failed to appropriately allocate assets and has retained exclusive control over certain business interests linked to the estate.
The filing discloses that Boseman passed away without a will. Subsequently, in probate proceedings, a judge issued a final directive on October 4, 2022, to divide his estate evenly – half to Ledward and half to Boseman’s parents. The directive also mandated the establishment of a long-term care insurance policy for the late actor’s mother.
However, Boseman’s brothers contend that the process has been protracted. Nearly four years following the 2022 directive, they claim Ledward has not fully relinquished the estate assets or finalized the necessary court documentation. Moreover, they allege that Ledward has retained unilateral authority over estate affairs without consulting Boseman’s family.
The petition asserts that Ledward has allegedly mishandled funds and assets, including SAG-AFTRA residual payments, royalties, image and intellectual property rights, and real estate. The siblings highlight purportedly missing bank accounts amounting to almost $3 million US, asserting that the delays have inflicted ongoing harm on Boseman’s elderly parents and have hindered the family’s pursuit of closure.
The brothers also accuse Ledward of taking sole control of Chadwick Boseman, Inc., neglecting mandatory annual shareholder meetings, and making autonomous decisions concerning Boseman’s image and intellectual property without familial input. They further criticize Ledward for establishing The Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts in 2021 without involving his parents and for excluding the family from leadership roles within the foundation.
The brothers have petitioned the court to demand an explanation from Ledward for the delays in executing the 2022 estate order and to enforce the immediate distribution of remaining estate assets. They seek her removal as estate administrator and advocate for the appointment of forensic accountant Jason Rubin to investigate potential mismanagement.
Furthermore, the petition calls for a comprehensive financial report from Ledward within 30 days, an injunction barring her from entering into agreements involving Boseman’s image and intellectual property without the brothers’ written consent, and a requirement for a shareholder meeting of Chadwick Boseman, Inc. within the same timeframe. A court hearing is scheduled in Los Angeles for September 29.
In their communication with CBC News, the brothers expressed their aspiration for a transparent process that upholds the court’s directives and ensures the responsible preservation of Chadwick’s legacy. Ledward has refrained from public responses to the allegations thus far. CBC News has reached out to Ledward’s legal representatives for comment but has not received a response at the time of this publication.