Monday, February 4, 2008

In Court: Battle For Britney?

The following italicized article is from www.people.com:

As Britney Spears remains on a 14-day forced hospitalization, attorneys for the singer may object in a Los Angeles courtroom Monday to her father's control of her affairs.

Spears, 26, has had strained relations with her dad for years. "I am praying for my father. We never had a good relationship," Britney said in a statement last year regarding a feud.

"There could be a clash of wills over which side claims to have her best interests at heart," says L.A. probate attorney Allan Cutrow, who's not involved in the case.

Her father, Jamie –­ who visited Britney at the hospital on Sunday afternoon – and a lawyer named Andrew Wallet, were given widespread power over Spears's finances after a court named them co-conservators of her estate on Friday.

Courts grant this control when a person is incapable of handling their own affairs.

Jamie, alone, was also named temporary conservator of her person – in charge of her basic care and needs. He does not, however, have authority over her psychiatric treatment.

By now, a court-appointed attorney may have advised Spears of her right to protest her dad's control. If she does, the court may replace her father with someone who's deemed impartial.

It's also unclear whether Spears's custody lawyers, of the firm Trope and Trope, have the right to object.

"Depending on the powers the court granted the co-conservators, they may have the power to fire Trope and Trope at any time," Cutrow says.

Also Monday is a scheduled hearing in Spears's ongoing custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline. She currently has no visitation rights of their sons, Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1.

The former couple are not required to attend either hearing.

"This could only be the beginning of a long, protracted battle over her care, and control of her wealth," Cutrow adds.

Source: People

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