James Brown's six adult children have filed court papers to remove trustees from overseeing their late father's estate because of alleged "mismanagement".

An emergency petition was filed late on Wednesday in Aiken County, South Carolina, which contends Brown's assets are in danger of being "lost or dissipated and stolen".

The irrevocable trust was signed in 2000 and is believed to contain most of Brown's primary assets, including music rights and his Beech Island estate in South Carolina.

The trust is separate from the star's will, which was filed last week and divided personal possessions including jewellery, clothes and vehicles among the children.

Brown's attorney and trustee, Buddy Dallas, hits back at the claims of mismanagement, insisting everything in the trust was handled "appropriately and properly". He adds, "I've been Mr Brown's trusted friend and counsel for 24 years - a relationship that was built totally on our trust. And I never violated that trust for 24 years."

The Godfather of Soul died on December 25, 2006 aged 73. A court hearing has been scheduled for February 1.

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)