Updated

Two people in charge of a portion of James Brown's estate quit their positions Tuesday amid ongoing questions over the late soul singer's finances.

The resignation of the trustees, who included a longtime adviser and close friend of Brown's, was announced during a court hearing shortly after a former trustee was held in contempt. That ex-trustee, David Cannon, has been accused of misappropriating up to $7 million from the estate.

The trustees who resigned did not immediately offer an explanation. One left the courthouse and the other, longtime Brown adviser Buddy Dallas, went to meet with the judge who is attempting to unravel claims to the singer's assets.

Brown died last year in Atlanta on Christmas. His death threw into turmoil the future of his trust, which is said to contain most of Brown's primary assets, including music rights and his 60-acre Beech Island home in South Carolina.

Still unclear is the total value of Brown's assets.