Chadwick Boseman's Brothers Demand Widow Removed as Estate Administrator

The brothers of the late actor Chadwick Boseman have filed a petition in a Los Angeles court to remove his widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, from her role as administrator of his estate. Kevin and Derrick Boseman allege she has mismanaged the estate and kept the family in the dark about its status.

In court documents filed on Friday, the brothers claim that Taylor has failed to comply with a 2022 court order that granted the actor's parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman, a combined 50% share of the estate. Since Chadwick died without a will, the court had awarded Taylor control of the other half.

According to the brothers, nearly four years later, Taylor has still not finished distributing the estate's assets and continues to control everything on her own. The estate includes movie residuals, royalties, image and intellectual property rights, investments, insurance policies, bank accounts, and personal belongings. Notably, more than $3 million in assets are held in various bank accounts.

Kevin and Derrick list specific grievances: Taylor has not transferred a long-term care insurance policy to their mother, has not closed and distributed money from Chadwick's bank accounts, has not accounted for SAG-AFTRA residual payments earned after his death, and has not collected and distributed unclaimed property. This, they say, has left the parents without funds and insurance they are entitled to, prevented them from pursuing business opportunities involving Chadwick's legacy, and caused emotional distress.

The brothers also claim that Taylor continues to profit solely from Chadwick's name and image, despite numerous pleas from the family to resolve the issues. They are asking the court to hold her in contempt for failing to follow the 2022 order, force her to distribute the remaining assets, and provide a complete accounting within 30 days.

Furthermore, they seek to permanently remove Taylor as administrator and appoint attorney Jason Rubin to take over. They also request that the court bar Taylor from signing major contracts involving the estate without family approval, require her to hand over copies of all contracts, and pay the family's attorney's fees and legal costs.

Chadwick Boseman passed away on August 28, 2020, from complications of colon cancer, a diagnosis he privately battled for four years. His death shocked fans worldwide, and his legacy continues through his films and philanthropic efforts.