Chadwick Boseman's brothers seek widow's removal as administrator of late actor's estate

Nearly six years after Chadwick Boseman's death, the late Black Panther actor is back in the headlines for a different reason. The Hollywood star's estate has become the centre of a legal dispute. His brothers, Kevin and Derrick Boseman, have petitioned a Los Angeles court to remove his widow Taylor Simone Ledward-Boseman as the administrator of his estate.

Details of petition filed by Chadwick Boseman's brothers

Kevin and Derrick Boseman have alleged that Ledward had not properly distributed the Black Panther actor's assets in the six years since his death in August 2020. As per ABC News, the petition was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday; the brothers have stated that since the actor's death in 2020, Ledward, who inherited 50% of her late husband's estate and was appointed as administrator, "never fully distributed" the remaining 50% of his estate, despite a 2022 probate order requiring her to do so.

Also Read: Marvel Studios gives greenlight for Phase 7; announces new movies- Details inside

According to the petition, because Chadwick Boseman did not leave behind a will when he died, 50% of his estate passed to Ledward, while his parents Leroy and Carolyn Boseman inherited 25% each. The brothers allege that this has caused "ongoing harm" to their parents. In addition, the brothers also requested that Ledward be removed as estate administrator and replaced by a private professional fiduciary and forensic accountant in order to investigate any alleged estate mismanagement and "any unaccounted-for assets".

Also Read: 'Black Panther' Chadwick Boseman inspires students at alma mater Howard University

The petition additionally asks the court to require Ledward to provide a complete accounting of estate assets, including SAG-AFTRA residuals, royalties, and more, arguing that the family would be unable to determine whether everything has been properly distributed without those records. A Los Angeles court ordered Ledward to distribute the remaining half of the actor's estate to his parents on Oct. 4, 2022.

All about Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman was an American actor and playwright best known for starring as King T'Challa in the Marvel film Black Panther. Born in Anderson, South Carolina, in 1976, Chadwick rose to fame by playing basketball star Jackie Robinson in the 2013 film 42 and musician James Brown in the 2014 movie Get on Up.

Also Read: Fans remember late Chadwick Boseman as they stand up for Ariana Grande against body shaming

Chadwick's shot to global stardom with his role as T'Challa/Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War (2016), Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Black Panther became a cultural milestone as a blockbuster with an almost all-Black cast, earning a Best Picture Academy Award nomination.

Also Read: Chadwick Boseman remembered at the world premiere of 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'

Before passing away due to colon cancer, Chadwick Boseman delivered his final role as Levee Green in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom in 2020, earning a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He died on August 28 at the age of 43 in Los Angeles, California.