Dozens of Britney Spears fans holding signs reading “FREE BRITNEY” and “Brit is Stronger” gathered outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles on Friday afternoon in anticipation of a status hearing on the pop star’s contentious conservatorship. Members of the so-called #FreeBritney movement believe Spears is being unfairly controlled by legal guardianship, which allows her father, Jamie Spears, to manage her assets and many aspects of her personal life. This is a crucial moment in the 11-year span of the singer’s conservatorship. Fans and entertainment outlets speculate that Spears is being taken advantage of through the arrangement. And for the first time, Spears’ mother, Lynne Spears, had requested to be a part of the status hearing as well as her own counsel. But the hearing was swiftly closed to the public at the request of Britney Spears’ court-appointed advocate, Samuel D. Ingham III. In his request, Ingham cited the sensitive nature of what would likely be discussed at the hearing, including Spears’ medical care, her two sons and her trade secrets. Advertisement Earlier Friday, Spears was seen holding hands with her mother before she entered the courtroom. The status hearing was originally scheduled for August, according to court documents, but the singer requested the hearing be bumped up to May. Spears has been controlled by the court-approved conservatorship since 2008, after an undisclosed mental illness led to her public unraveling. The pop icon’s behavior dominated headlines for months: the shaved head, the bizarre British accent. Jamie Spears and lawyer Andrew Wallet were given complete control over her finances and most personal decisions. Wallet abruptly resigned in March a few months after being granted a significant raise, pushing his annual salary to $426,000, records show. Jamie Spears is also paid a salary through the conservatorship. Spears postponed her Las Vegas residency in January after the reported spontaneous rupture of her father’s colon. “We’re all so grateful that he came out of it alive, but he still has a long road ahead of him,” Spears wrote on Twitter of her dad’s ordeal. “I had to make the difficult decision to put my full focus and energy on my family at this time.” In early April, Spears reportedly checked herself into a mental health facility for a monthlong stay. She’s gone dark on Instagram in recent months and hasn’t been seen in public. A recent episode of the “Britney’s Gram” podcast, hosted by two Spears superfans — and originators of the #FreeBritney movement — featured a voicemail from an anonymous former member of Spears’ legal team, who claimed the star has actually been held against her will in a facility since January. The anonymous person said Spears was not taking her medication, which caused her father to pull his support from her Domination Las Vegas residency. Advertisement Members of the #FreeBritney contingent latched on to these rumors. Some traveled from as far as Boston to support the singer. Lexi Abston flew from Portland, Ore., to L.A. with her 8-year-old daughter, Moxie, for the courthouse rally. Abston has been a Spears fan since 1999, when she was a little girl with one ear held against her CD player and the other against her bedroom door; her religious parents didn’t allow her to listen to the pop star. A couple of years ago, Spears’ music helped Abston through a difficult divorce. Whenever she was having a tough day, she’d blast Spears’ song “Stronger” in her car. “Britney has been there for me through my entire life,” she said, holding a pink sign emblazoned with the word “STRONGER.” “Every time I had a happy moment, I turned on Britney. Every time I had a sad moment, I turned on Britney.” Advertisement The 28-year-old said she considers Spears’ conservatorship “modern-day slavery.” “Now,” Abston said, “it’s time to be there for her.”<doc-sep>The Associated Press After listening to Britney Spears and both of her parents speak in an unusual court appearance, a judge has ordered an expert evaluation of the 37-year-old singer's situation, the Associated Press reported Friday. The courtroom was cleared of members of the public and media Friday before Spears and her parents were brought in through a side door to discuss her conservatorship, which has put control of nearly all of her affairs in the hands of her father, Jamie Spears. After the hearing, Judge Brenda Penny ordered a so-called 730 expert evaluation, a competence examination that is usually used for parents in divorce cases. It's not clear whether the examination relates to Spears' relationship to her two sons or her parents' oversight of her. More:Britney Spears gets restraining order against former 'manager' More:Britney Spears checks out of mental health facility, reports say Penny says in her order that both Spears and her parents agreed to the evaluation. Spears' ex-husband Kevin Federline has custody of their boys, 13-year-old Sean and 12-year-old Jayden, who have frequent visits with their mother. Spears' personal attorney Samuel D. Ingham rose at the start of the hearing as many reporters and a handful of fans sat in the audience to say that Spears had requested the proceedings so she could speak to the court, and asked that the room be cleared because personal finances and her minor children would be discussed. Penny agreed, and Spears and her parents were sneaked in through side doors when the court was empty. They left the same way, and when the courtroom was reopened the hearing was over. Only a few determined fans and passers-by caught glimpses of her. For years, Spears has been publicly silent about the severe restrictions on her decisions put in place by the conservatorship established in 2008, when she was having serious personal and psychiatric struggles, many of which played out in public. Conservatorship, known in many states as guardianship, is an involuntary status usually reserved for very elderly or very ill people who are suffering from dementia or otherwise incapacitated and unable to make decisions for themselves. Rarely is it used for people as functional as Spears, who despite further problems — she has said in interviews that she struggles with bipolar disorder — has seen her career continue to thrive. That has brought speculation that at some point she would ask a judge to end her special status. Outside the courthouse, about 20 Spears fans protested with signs that read "Free Britney" and "End the conservatorship now." The appearance of Spears' 66-year-old father was something of a surprise because he had been in such ill health in recent months that his daughter put her career on hold, delaying the start of a Las Vegas residency, so she could be with him. Spears mother, Lynne Spears, who is divorced from Jamie Spears, has had no role in the conservatorship, but this week got special permission from Penny to be part of Friday's hearing. Britney Spears doesn't normally attend the hearings on her status. Her parents' situations along with the departure from the case of the lawyer who long served as Jamie Spears' co-executor seemed to suggest significant changes might be coming in the legal arrangement. But Penny has not indicated she is inclined to make any major moves, and ordered another status hearing for September.<doc-sep>Since 2008, Britney Spears' father, Jamie, has served as the permanent conservator of her affairs and estate Britney Spears arrived at a Los Angeles courthouse for her conservatorship hearing on Friday holding hands with her mother, Lynne. Passing several dozen “#FreeBritney” protesters who had assembled in the courtyard, the singer entered the building through a back entrance wearing a black turtleneck and red lipstick. Onlookers say she appeared “comfortable, happy and glowing.” Get push notifications with news, features and more. The hearing was closed to reporters and the public after Britney’s attorney shared that she wanted to address the court concerning “issues with medical care,” minor children and trade secrets. Meanwhile, a source told PEOPLE that the judge at today’s hearing ordered expert evaluation and that Britney asked for certain freedoms under her conservatorship, but the judge didn’t grant that request. Earlier this week, Lynne, 64, filed a legal motion to be kept informed of all matters pertaining to the singer’s conservatorship, which has been in place since 2008. According to the request filed on May 6 and obtained by PEOPLE, Lynne asked to receive notice of “all matters which special notice may be requested.” In 2008, a Los Angeles court named Britney’s father Jamie, 66, permanent conservator of her affairs. He was also named permanent co-conservator of her estate, along with an attorney, Andrew Wallet. Wallet resigned his role in March, according to documents obtained by The Blast. U.S. - Britney Spears at Palms Home Poker Host Launch in Las Vegas Jamie and Britney Spears | Credit: Chris Farina/Corbis/Getty The Blast reported that Jamie and Lynne have discussed her recent decision to take a more proactive role in Britney’s conservatorship. Rather than receiving information and updates on Britney, 37, through Jamie, Lynne is seeking to receive details directly from the court. “There’s no battle between Jamie and Lynne,” a source close to the situation previously told PEOPLE. “Lynne has always been filled in by Jamie and is now just making it official.” A Spears family source added, “Britney is still adjusting to medications. It’s a difficult situation for her and Lynne is in L.A. to help. Lynne wants to be more involved in Britney’s care because she is her mom. If there is something more they can do for Britney, Lynne wants to make sure Britney gets that help.” To date, Lynne has not made an attempt to be named as a co-conservator alongside her former husband, who continues to recover from a potentially lethal colon rupture last fall. Britney Spears out and about, Los Angeles, America - 31 Aug 2013 Britney Spears with her mother, Lynne On April 25, Britney checked out of the “all-encompassing wellness facility” where she was being treated. A source previously told PEOPLE that Sam Asghari, her boyfriend of two years, picked her up and drove her home. “Britney is back at home and is very happy about it,” a Spears family insider told PEOPLE at the time, adding that the pop star would be spending her first weekend home with her sons, Sean Preston, 13, and Jayden James, 12, as well as her boyfriend, 25. Britney-Spears-Sam-Asghari Britney Spears and Sam Lutfi | Credit: Britney Spears/Instagram While she was still checked into the facility last month, Britney revealed she’d lost five lbs. amid her ongoing treatment. “Who knew stress would be a great weight loss? Yay for me,” she quipped during a workout video. Prior to checking out of the facility, Britney also assured her fans that she was doing okay in a video posted to her Instagram page on April 23. “My family has been going through a lot of stress and anxiety lately, so I just needed time to deal,” she said. “Don’t worry I’ll be back very soon.” Referencing the #FreeBritney movement, the “Piece of Me” singer went into further detail about her situation in the caption writing, “I wanted to say hi because things that are being said have just gotten out of control!! !” “Wow!!! There’s rumors, death threats to my family and my team, and just so many things — crazy things being said. I am trying to take a moment for myself, but everything that’s happening is just making it harder for me,” she continued. She also praised her fans for their overwhelming support. “Your love and dedication is amazing, but what I need right now is a little bit of privacy to deal with all the hard things that life is throwing my way,” she wrote. “If you could do that, I would be forever grateful. Love you ❤️❤️❤️.” A source close to Britney previously told PEOPLE she made the decision to get help all on her own. “She recognized she needed to focus on her own health and sought treatment,” the source said. “No one forced her to go.” The medicine Britney was previously taking had lost some efficacy over time, PEOPLE learned. As doctors weaned her off the old medicine cocktail and created a new, tweaked regimen, the adjustment period was challenging. On April 3, Spears alluded to taking some time off when she posted an empowering quote — “Fall in love with taking care of yourself, mind, body, spirit” — to her Instagram, along with the caption: “We all need to take time for a little ‘me time’ :).” Earlier this week, Britney was granted a new restraining order against her former manager, Osama “Sam” Lutfi. She had asked for the new restraining order in order “to prevent future harm and further psychological trauma,” according to documents obtained by PEOPLE. “Lutfi began a new campaign of harassment against Ms. Spears and her family,” the court documents read. “In the last week alone, Mr. Lutfi has made dozens of disparaging and threatening comments on social media and in interviews. He has sent threatening texts to Ms. Spears’ family, he has leaked confidential information, and is considering releasing more of Ms. Spears’ (actual and fabricated) private information. … Mr. Lutfi’s actions threaten Ms. Spears’ safety and well-being.”<doc-sep>Jamie Lynn Spears denied an Instagram commenter's insinuation that she received an "allowance" from her sister Jamie Lynn Spears did not hold back when it came to putting a social media commenter in their place. Just hours after her sister Britney Spears appeared in court for her conservatorship hearing, Jamie Lynn, 28, posted sweet supportive photo of Britney, 37. Get push notifications with news, features and more. In the comments, one fan wrote, “Fear of losing your allowance, I see!” Jamie Lynn responded, “haha nice try, but I have NEVER been paid a dime from my sister. that is HER hard earned money, and I am NOT entitled to a cent of it. I would no spend money I did not earn.” In addition to defending herself and her sister in her Instagram comments, Jamie Lynn also seemingly referenced the conservatorship hearing today in a video she posted to her social media. jamie-lynn-spears Credit: Jamie Lynn Spears Instagram “So, it’s been a minute since I’ve done one of my Tom Boy Talk videos because there’s been a little ‘s’ going down,” the country singer said. The video then slowed down while Gwen Stefani‘s “Hollaback Girl” started playing, specifically the lyrics, “This s— is bananas.” “But I’m back because I didn’t forget about y’all and the topics that you’ve submitted,” she continued. Britney and Jamie Spears Britney Spears and Jamie Lynn Spears | Credit: Image Group LA/Disney Channel via Getty Images Just hours before her sister’s post, Britney was seen arriving at a Los Angeles courthouse holding hands with her mother, Lynne Spears, for Friday’s conservatorship hearing. While the hearing was closed to reporters, a source told PEOPLE that the judge ordered an expert evaluation. The insider added that Britney asked for certain freedoms under her conservatorship, but the judge didn’t grant that request. As she arrived at court, Britney passed several “#FreeBritney” protesters and entered the courthouse via a back entrance. Lynne previously filed a legal motion, obtained by PEOPLE, on May 6 that asked the court to receive notice of “all matters which special notice may be requested.” But just because Lynne wants to be kept more up to speed regarding information and updates on Britney, that doesn’t mean there’s a conflict between her and Britney’s father Jamie Spears, who became a permanent conservator of Britney’s affairs in 2008. “There’s no battle between Jamie and Lynne,” a source close to the situation previously told PEOPLE. “Lynne has always been filled in by Jamie and is now just making it official.”<doc-sep>
Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) LOS ANGELES — After hearing Britney Spears and her parents speak in a rare and secretive joint court appearance Friday, a judge ordered an expert evaluation in the conservatorship that for 11 years has put control of much of the 37-year-old singer’s life in the control of her father. Only the few left inside know what the three said in the courtroom that was closed to public and media shortly after the hearing began. But Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny wrote in an order afterward that all had agreed on a so-called 730 expert evaluation, a process usually used to determine the mental health and competence of a parent in a divorce case. It is not made clear who would be examined, and whether it would relate to Spears’ relationship to her two sons or her parents’ oversight of her. Spears’ ex-husband Kevin Federline has custody of their boys, 13-year-old Sean and 12-year-old Jayden, who have frequent visits with their mother. Spears’ personal attorney Samuel D. Ingham rose at the start of the hearing as many reporters and a handful of fans sat in the audience to say that Spears had requested the proceedings so she could speak to the court, and asked that the room be cleared because personal finances and her minor children would be discussed. Penny agreed, and Spears and her parents were sneaked in through side doors when the court was empty. They left the same way, and when the courtroom was reopened the hearing was over. For years, Spears has been publicly silent about the severe restrictions on her decisions put in place by the conservatorship established in 2008, when she was having serious personal and psychiatric struggles, many of which played out in public. Conservatorship, known in many states as guardianship, is an involuntary status usually reserved for very elderly or very ill people who are suffering from dementia or otherwise incapacitated and unable to make decisions for themselves. Rarely is it used for people as functional as Spears, who despite further problems — she has said in interviews that she struggles with bipolar disorder — has seen her career continue to thrive. That has brought speculation that at some point she would ask a judge to end her special status. Outside the courthouse, about 20 Spears fans protested with signs that read “Free Britney” and “End the conservatorship now.” The appearance of Spears’ 66-year-old father Jamie Spears was something of a surprise because he had been in such ill health in recent months that his daughter put her career on hold, delaying the start of a Las Vegas residency, so she could be with him. Spears mother, Lynne Spears, who is divorced from Jamie Spears, has had no role in the conservatorship, but this week got special permission from Penny to be part of Friday’s hearing. Britney Spears doesn’t normally attend the hearings on her status. Her parents’ situations along with the departure from the case of the lawyer who long served as Jamie Spears’ co-executor seemed to suggest significant changes might be coming in the legal arrangement. But Penny has not indicated she is inclined to make any major moves, and ordered another status hearing for September. In the same court building on Wednesday, a judge granted Spears a temporary restraining order against Sam Lutfi, a man who once claimed to be her manager and has been in legal fights with her family for a decade. Spears alleged that Lutfi had been sending harassing and threatening texts to Spears’ family, disparaging them on social media and seeking to undermine her conservatorship. A judge ordered the 44-year-old Lutfi to stay at least 200 yards from Spears and her family. Lutfi’s attorney said the decision was disappointing and violated Lutfi’s constitutional rights.