New to the Britney Spears payroll: Britney Spears.
A court commissioner on Monday approved a $1,500 weekly allowance for the beleaguered pop princess, whose financial affairs have been under the temporary control of her father and his attorneys for a month and a half.
The "Toxic" singer, whose estate is reportedly worth an estimated $100 million, will have access to the cash via debit card to "enjoy herself, have some freedom of choice," Geraldine Wyle, an attorney with Luce Forward, the firm representing Jamie Spears, told E! News.
Jamie Spears is getting $2,500 a week from his daughter's estate, plus funds to lease a car, in exchange for temporarily managing her affairs.
At the second Britney-related hearing of the day, the first being a face-off over custody-related attorneys' fees that took place in the morning, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz also approved a release of $135,000 from Britney's accounts to pay bills, compensate specialty attorneys hired to help oversee the singer's affairs and to fund an ongoing audit of Jive Records, her longtime label.
Attorney Jorge Hernandez will receive a $25,000 retainer to perform the Jive audit, while entertainment lawyer Tom Hansen has been booked for $15,000 a month to consult on Britney's career-related deals and contracts (including, apparently, her upcoming guest appearance on How I Met Your Mother).
Britney, per usual, was not in court Monday for either hearing, a decision her court-appointed attorney, Samuel D. Ingham III, has advised against, even offering to provide transportation and security on those quick jaunts to the courthouse.
"I have spoken to my client and she's been inconsistent with her position to attend these hearings," Ingham said in court. "The last word I got today was that she was not coming. I would categorize her as unwilling to appear...She does not object that the proceedings take place. However, she does object to elements of relief that are being requested."
His last remark was referring to Britney's continued consternation over losing control of her cash and comings-and-goings, however mitigated by the decision to allow her face time with her children again.
Since being hospitalized briefly Jan. 31 to undergo psychological evaluation and subsequently being deemed unfit to make certain choices for herself, the Blackout songstress has tried to employ two different lawyers, both of whose efforts on her behalf were ruled invalid.
"Even though it is clear that Ms. Spears is aware of these hearings and chose not to appear, I am holding this hearing, as it is necessary in her absence to prevent harm to her," Goetz said.
Reporters were eventually booted from the courtroom Monday afternoon while Goetz reviewed the results of a medical-psychological evaluation.
Britney has been having monitored visits with her sons with ex-husband Kevin Federline, two-year-old Sean Preston and 18-month-old Jayden James, for the past two weeks. While the number of people present for these rendezvous at Britney's home has varied from meeting to meeting, Jamie Spears and a court-approved psychiatrist are the only ones who must be present at all times.
Last week, Goetz extended the conservatorship until July 31, and Britney has now been ordered to remain in California until at least that date, when the commissioner will hear arguments regarding a "permanent conservatorship."
"The Court finds from clear and convincing evidence that a conservatorship of the estate is necessary and appropriate (in that the proposed conservatee is unable to manage her financial resources and/or resist undue influence AND granting of the conservatorship is the least restrictive alternative needed to protect of the conservatee," Goetz stated in a note of order filed Monday.
Sources close to her have been saying that Britney is responding well to the new arrangements, however, and it's possible that she could be queen of her castle once again well before the midsummer hearing.