The brothers of late actor Chadwick Boseman have petitioned a court to remove his widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, as administrator of his estate.
Kevin and Derrick Boseman alleged that Ledward had not properly distributed the Black Panther star’s assets in the six years since his August 2020 death, documents obtained by People said.
Chadwick Boseman died in 2020 after a private four-year battle with colon cancer. Getty
Therefore, they are asking she be removed as administrator.
According to the petition, Ledward is entitled to 50 per cent of the actor’s estate – including more than $5.4 million in cash and other assets – because they married before his death. He did not have a will in place.
His parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman, are entitled to 25 per cent, and though the filing alleged a court had ordered Ledward to distribute the estate assets in 2022, she is yet to do so.
“Nearly four years later, Respondent has still not distributed the estate, nor has she filed a petition for discharge with receipts as required,” the brothers said.
“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 brothers said this had caused “ongoing harm” to their parents.
They also alleged Boseman’s estate included assets beyond what was originally declared, including “royalties and residuals, image and intellectual property rights, real property, a previously undisclosed bank account at CNB, and other personal property.”
They said Ledward’s “lack of transparency creates the appearance that she is concealing assets from Decedent’s family and from the Court.”
Lastly, the family claimed Ledward was not distributing the rights to Boseman’s image and intellectual property.
Ledward and Boseman in 2019. Getty
They alleged she had therefore “blocked” them from “pursuing lucrative business opportunities that might benefit Decedent’s elderly parents.”
The filing asked the court to replace Ledward with forensic accountant Jason Rubin as administrator of the estate.
Boseman died in 2020 aged 43 after a private four-year battle with colon cancer.
The Black Panther star kept his health battle out of the public eye. Disney/Marvel Studios
He and Ledward were first linked in 2015, shortly after she graduated from Cal Polytechnic University Pomona.
Their marriage was only confirmed with the announcement of his death.
“He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side,” the statement said.