Chadwick Boseman Estate Battle Breaks Out Between His Parents and Widow Over Assets

A legal fight has broken out over the administration of Chadwick Boseman‘s estate, with his parents looking to remove his widow from her role overseeing its assets.

Boseman’s parents accuse Simone Ledward Boseman of violating a court order mandating the distribution of funds and mismanaging the company that holds Chadwick’s rights and prior works. The petition filed in California state court asks to hold her in contempt and issue an injunction barring her from exercising unilateral control over estate property.

Boseman died in August 2020 from colon cancer without a will. Under California law, his estate was divided equally between Ledward Boseman and his parents.

According to the petition, funds haven’t been fully disbursed. There’s roughly $3.8 million in the estate including: cash, retirement accounts, a long-term care insurance policy and Chadwick Boseman Inc.

Boseman’s image and intellectual property rights are also involved in the dispute. Those rights are managed by Chadwick Boseman Inc., with Ledward Boseman and Boseman’s parents each owning 50 percent. The petition claims that Ledward Boseman has kept other family members in the dark regarding the company’s operations and appointed herself as CEO without holding board meetings. She’s allegedly used her control over the estate and the firm to enter into contracts assigning Chadwick’s rights and prior works.

For more information see Winston Cho “Chadwick Boseman Estate Battle Breaks Out Between His Parents and Widow Over Assets” The Hollywood Reporter, July 23, 2026.