COLUMBIA --- Attorneys pushing a long-awaited settlement over how to parcel out James Brown's estate and trust want the trustees removed, claiming they've done little to protect the singer's legacy and money.

Court-appointed trustees Adele Pope and Robert Buchanan, who are attorneys in South Carolina, should be replaced by someone with the legal and accounting expertise needed to deal with the complex estate, Louis Levensen, an attorney for some of Mr. Brown's adult children, said Monday. Mr. Levensen and other attorneys involved in the dispute over Mr. Brown's estate claim that it has taken too long to resolve, and they want the current trustees out.

A proposed settlement of Mr. Brown's estate would give 50 percent to his charitable trust to educate the singer's grandchildren and needy students in Georgia and South Carolina; 25 percent to Tomi Rae Hynie Brown, Mr. Brown's surviving spouse and the mother of one of his children; and 25 percent to some of Mr. Brown's adult children. All parties with a stake in the settlement support the motion calling for the trustees' removal, which was filed Friday in Aiken County.

Mr. Brown died on Christmas Day 2006, igniting a whirlwind of public feuds and litigation.

Some of the soul singer's possessions were auctioned in July for $850,000, partly to pay debt. Attorneys have said the soul singer's accounts have little money in them.

Calls to Ms. Pope and Mr. Buchanan and their attorney were not immediately returned Monday. The two were initially hired as special administrators to help settle the estate and were appointed trustees a year ago to oversee Mr. Brown's estate and trust but have failed to provide an adequate inventory and appraise Mr. Brown's possessions, and based a federal estate tax return on unreliable information, according to court documents.

The court documents also seek to permanently remove three former trustees. David Cannon resigned last year amid allegations he misappropriated thousands of dollars from Mr. Brown's accounts. Buddy Dallas and Alfred Bradley also resigned but have filed a lawsuit to be reinstated.