ODuran/Fame PicturesUPDATE: Looks like it's going to take a new year for Britney Spears to reach a new level of legal freedom.
Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz will continue Jamie Spears' conservatorship over his famous daughter through for the rest of they year.
"Regarding the conservatorship of the person, I understand that Ms. Spears is reluctantly agreeing to extend those letters," Goetz said. "We are extending them until Dec. 31, 2008."
A status hearing for the extended order has been set for Oct. 28.
"All orders remain in effect," Goetz said, before delivering some good news for the apparently reluctant songbird.
"The order is without prejudice and is subject to early termination."
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Britney Spears' days of media-deluged court appearances may be behind her, but it's not quite case closed for the pop star.
Attorneys for the singer are currently meeting in the chambers of Court Commissioner Reva Goetz at the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse to discuss either extending or terminating her father's current conservatorship over her estate.
While neither Spears nor papa Jamie are present for the session, her brother, Bryan Spears, a cotrustee of Britney's assets, is in the courtroom.
As yet, there's no word on the outcome of today's closed-door hearing, though sources told E! News just yesterday that despite rumors the 26-year-old could regain control of her estate after today, the conservatorship is unlikely to be dissolved until the end of the year, with Goetz expected to extend the order.
Attorneys for Jamie Spears, largely if not wholly credited with his daughter's personal and professional resuscitation, are expected to request the extension to last through later this fall.
Also on the docket for today's hearing is the Spears family's temporary restraining order over Sam Lutfi.
Sources told E! News this week that the Spears patriarch was unlikely to attempt to make the order against Lutfi permanent—not that he is welcome in the Spears family's life.
Should Jamie's conservatorship get extended, the restraining order would be redundant since he, as acting conservator, is already well within his power—restraining order or not—to determine who gets one-on-one time with Britney.
(Originally published July 31, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. PT.)