Derrick and Kevin Boseman, Chadwick Boseman’s brothers, are suing his widow regarding how his estate – worth millions of dollars – is being managed.
Chadwick Boseman’s parents have asked a Los Angeles court to take control of his estate away from his widow, Taylor Simone Ledward. They allege she hasn’t managed the money properly and isn’t capable of continuing to oversee his assets.
Court records obtained by The Times show that Chadwick Boseman’s brothers filed a legal document last week regarding their parents’ inheritance. They claim Leroy and Carolyn Boseman each received 25% of their son’s estate, while his wife, Ledward, inherited 50%. The estate included income from his work, rights to his name and creations, investments, insurance, possessions, and money in various bank accounts. Since Boseman died without a will, his estate was divided between his parents and Ledward.
According to the legal filing, Ledward was named to manage Boseman’s estate but hasn’t fully distributed his assets. The filing alleges she maintains complete control without consulting Boseman’s parents, Leroy and Carolyn. They are asking the court to order Ledward to distribute the remaining assets, explain why she shouldn’t be penalized for potentially violating a court order, and provide a detailed record of how she’s managed the estate, including all receipts. They are also requesting the court remove her from her position as administrator.
The brothers requested that the court appoint a professional financial expert—a fiduciary and forensic accountant—to take over as administrator. They believe this person is needed to investigate claims of mishandling of the estate and locate any missing assets.
Reps for Ledward did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment.
Chadwick Boseman’s brothers claim they’ve been prevented from accessing his estate, which they say is stopping them from pursuing profitable business deals that could help their aging parents.
Our parents have been trying to understand issues related to our brother, Chadwick Boseman’s, estate – including his creative work and how he’ll be remembered – for some time now. We are working on their behalf to make sure everything is handled openly, fairly, and with respect. We hope this process will clarify things, follow the court’s instructions, and protect Chadwick’s legacy.
We cherish our brother and are dedicated to honoring his memory with dignity, honesty, and respect.
The Academy Award-nominated actor passed away in 2020 at the age of 43 after a four-year private struggle with colon cancer. He received a Stage 3 diagnosis in 2016, the same year he first appeared as the superhero Black Panther (T’Challa) in “Captain America: Civil War.” Throughout his career, he also powerfully portrayed historical figures like Jackie Robinson in “42,” James Brown in “Get on Up,” and Thurgood Marshall in “Marshall.”
Chadwick Boseman and singer Simone Ledward, who performs as sahn, began dating in 2015 and secretly married in 2020, shortly before Boseman passed away. Denzel Washington, a friend of Boseman’s and producer of the film “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” witnessed Ledward caring for the actor during his cancer treatment on set. He playfully advised Boseman to propose to her.
As a movie lover, I’ve been really moved by Chadwick Boseman’s wife, Simone Ledward. She’s become such a powerful advocate for colon cancer awareness, and she’s been speaking out a lot, which is so important. Just recently, in 2024, she spoke at Dana-Farber, and what she said really resonated with me. She pointed out that colorectal cancer is affecting younger people at alarming rates, and a lot of us don’t realize how much risk there actually is. She’s seen firsthand how quickly this disease can progress, but also how treatable it is if caught early – and that message, as reported by NBC Boston, is something everyone needs to hear.
She explained that her commitment to this issue comes from understanding the problem and feeling frustrated that so few people in her community are aware of it. She believes those who do understand have a responsibility to educate others, because raising awareness can literally save lives.
2026-07-24 02:31