Britney Spears' father is appointed by court to be her temporary conservator

A Superior Court commissioner placed Britney Spears and her estate under temporary conservatorship today, a day after the pop star was taken to a psychiatric hospital.

Spears' loss of control over her own affairs came less than a decade after she shot to stardom as a teenager with the hit "... Baby One More Time," and followed a year of bizarre behavior captured by paparazzi lenses.

Her father, James Spears, was named conservator of Spears herself. His eyes teared when the decision was made. He and an attorney, Andrew Wallet, were name conservators of the estate.

The singer's mother Lynne Spears, was also in court. The parents sat with attorney Blair Berk throughout the hearing and they smiled and embraced her after the announcement.

A court creates conservatorships when a person cannot care for themselves or handle their affairs.

The court also issued a restraining order against Britney Spears' sometimes manager and friend, Sam Lutfi, and gave permission to change the locks on her estate and remove anyone who is there.

Commissioner Reva Goetz said Spears would be under conservatorship until Feb. 4, at which time another hearing will be held.

"It is in the best interests of the conservatee to have conservatorship over her person," Goetz told a packed courtroom.

There was no account or description of the young star's actual condition during the hearing.

The conservator will have the power to "restrict visitors," have around-the-clock security for Spears, and have access to all medical records, Goetz said.

The commissioner noted that if the attorney meets with the singer to discuss her medical records he must not leave them with her.

Goetz said conservatorship over the estate was "necessary and appropriate." She gave approval for the conservator to "take all actions to secure all liquid assets including credit cards."

The court, which rejected a request to hold the hearing without news media present, did not immediately rule on another request to seal all documents. Goetz said she would rule on Monday, and court spokesman Allan Parachini said the papers would remain sealed until then.

The conservatorship was approved by a different court than the one handling a custody dispute over the singer's children. A hearing on custody issues is set for 8:30 a.m. Monday in that court.

Paramedics with a heavy police escort took the troubled pop star from her home to UCLA Medical Center's psychiatric hospital early Thursday.

It was the second hospitalization this year for the 26-year-old singer, who has been in spiral of bizarre behavior since November 2006, when she filed for divorce from Kevin Federline, the father of her sons, 1-year-old Jayden James and 2-year-old Sean Preston.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times reported that the police cars, motorcycles and helicopter that helped get the singer to the hospital cost the Los Angeles Police Department an estimated $25,000, though a police spokeswoman would not confirm that figure.

Police officials have defended the motorcade, saying it was provided to get Spears through a paparazzi swarm without endangering her or the public.
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