Spears' father takes over estate

Spears faces an ongoing custody battle for her sons

Singer Britney Spears has had control of her estate and her own welfare taken from her, under order of a court.

The pop star and her assets have been placed under the "conservatorship" of her father, James Spears.

She was admitted to a psychiatric hospital on Thursday, after a highly publicised descent into drink, drugs and personal problems.

A court creates a conservatorship when a person cannot care for himself or herself or handle their own affairs.

Court commissioner Reva Goetz said Spears would be under conservatorship until 4 February, when another hearing will be held.

Restraining order

The conservators will have power over the 26-year-old singer's liquid assets and can bar people from visiting her, officials said.

The Los Angeles court also placed a restraining order on Spears' manager Sam Lutfi, and gave permission to change the locks on her estate and remove anyone who was there.

Spears has been receiving treatment in the UCLA medical centre, where she was taken on Thursday for a psychiatric evaluation.

It was the second time she had been taken to hospital in less than a month.

In January, Spears was admitted to Cedar-Sinai medical centre after refusing to surrender custody of her two sons in a police stand-off.

Following the incident, sole custody of Sean Preston, aged two, and Jayden James, who is one, was awarded to ex-husband Kevin Federline.