The Ray Charles Foundation has filed suit against seven of the late singer’s children, claiming they are violating the terms of an agreement that left most of his estate to charity, The Hollywood Reporter and Courthouse News Service write.

Mr. Charles left each of his 12 children a $500,000 trust and, according to the lawsuit, obtained written agreements that they would make no more claims on his estate. The remainder of assets were directed to the foundation, which supports educational and disability organizations.

The suit says several of the children reneged on the deal by seeking to terminate or transfer copyrights on dozens of their father’s songs, including hits such as “I Got a Woman” and “A Fool for You,” thus recapturing earnings from his music that would otherwise benefit the foundation.

Mr. Charles’s estate has been the subject of acrimonious family battles since his death in 2004, generating a string of lawsuits over rights to his recordings and film and photo images.