Britney Spears will get more time with her sons during visitation, a court ruled Tuesday.

“We are so pleased with Britney’s progress, and we are appreciative of the court’s recognition of this progress,” Spears’s parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears, said in statement after a hearing attended by the pop star and her ex-husband Kevin Federline.

It was not clear how much more time Spears was granted. Federline’s attorney characterized the court order as “an expansion of time.”

“It is a cautious step, but a step forward nonetheless,” said lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan. “We are seeing signs of [Britney’s] progress, and consistency over time is something welcome by Kevin … The children are doing great.”

Spears, with lawyer Blair Berk and both of her parents, smiled as she left the courtroom and headed for her SUV, but did not talk to the press. Earlier, during a break in the hearing, the singer was seen looking teary-eyed. However, during a second break, she smiled and held her mother’s hand as she went back into the courtroom.

During that break, Spears and her lawyers, as well as Federline and his attorney, convened to adjacent rooms outside of the courtroom.

The hearing began around 9:40 a.m. on Tuesday. Spears, wearing a knee-length brown and white dress, was accompanied by her lawyer and both of her parents. Federline, wearing a tan pinstriped suit, was with Kaplan.

Spears has spent the last several months keeping a relatively low profile – and staying out of trouble. The singer was hospitalized at UCLA Medical Center’s psych ward in January. Her custody arrangement has consisted of only monitored visitation rights with her sons, Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, several times a week – but no overnight privileges. Her father and a lawyer maintain legal control of her affairs until a July 31 hearing.

Since her father took control of Spears’s life, the singer has been spending more time with her family – including her previously estranged mom. (She recently attended a baby shower for her sister, Jamie Lynn, in Kentwood, La.)

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Britney Spears’ visitation rights to her children remain suspended, ruled Commissioner Scott Gordon at LA’s Superior Court today. The next hearing is scheduled for February 19; the trial is set for April 9.

“The word victory is not something that Mr. Federline or his counsel would ascribe to the results of the court,” Kevin Federline’s attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, told reporters outside the courthouse. “There is no joyous feeling. This is a grave situation for everybody. And while we believe Mr. Federline is pleased that the court did make an order that we feel is appropriate, there is no joy in it for him.”

An insider tells In Touch that “while Kaplan showed sincere feelings for Britney, you could tell he was happy he won in court.” Testifying today were Kevin, two LAPD officers, Britney’s court-appointed monitor, her parenting coach and Kevin’s bodyguard.
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Paris Hilton has been spotted getting friendly to Britney Spears’ ex-husband Kevin Federline.

The hotel heiress, who has become good friends with Britney after partying with her several times this year, was seen laughing and joking with Kevin at Las Vegas’ LAX nightclub on Saturday (29.12.07).

A source said: “Kevin and Paris were having fun. He kept shouting out her name and gave her a kiss on the cheek and then whispered something in her ear. It looked as though they were getting quite friendly.”

Britney was reportedly furious after seeing photographs of Paris and Kevin together at the weekend.

This isn’t the first time Britney has felt betrayed by one of her friends recently.

Lindsay Lohan is said to have upset the ‘Toxic’ singer by dating Britney’s ex-lover music producer J.R. Rotem.

Although Kevin seemed to be enjoying himself with Paris, he was left red-faced after deciding to grab a microphone and rap to the crowd.

Kevin Federline has called an emergency hearing in his custody battle with Britney Spears, amid allegations his ex-wife has failed to comply with court-ordered drug tests.

Lawyers for both parties are due to meet in a Los Angeles court on Thursday, after Federline’s attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, called the hearing. Spears and Federline are not expected to appear in court.

Under the latest court ruling, Spears is allowed to see her boys - Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one - three times a week, but must follow an earlier court order to undergo mandatory drug and alcohol tests and well as attend joint parenting sessions with dancer Federline.

If Spears is proved to have violated the drug-testing procedures, she faces having her visitation rights suspended until she follows the court order.

But the singer is not letting the latest allegations affect her daily errands - she was spotted taking a break from her custody battle by going car shopping at California car dealership, Van Nuys Mercedes, on Wednesday.

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The decision is in — Britney Spears has not regained custody of her kids.

Issuing his order today, Commissioner Scott Gordon gave Spears three visits per week, two from 12:00 Noon to 7:00 PM and one overnight visit. The visits will be monitored.

Spears and K-Fed are ordered to figure out holiday schedules with the kids.

Britney must submit evidence that she childproofed her pool area by Friday.

In the order, the Commish wrote that when Britney has the kids, “the environment at the house ranged from chaotic to almost somber with little communication at all.” The Commish also recounts what the parenting coach complained of — that “during all three of my visits, Ms. Spears rarely engaged with the children in either conversation or play.”

According to the report, the coach wrote, “It seems that [Britney’s] choices are dependent more upon what she wants to do at any given time rather than what would be more enjoyable for the children.”

The coach also said Spears seemed to have a “lack of general attention at times” but there was nothing she “would characterize as abusive in a traditional sense.”

And then the most damning comment from the parenting coach: “The problem is that unless Ms. Spears realizes the consequences of her behavior and the impact that it has [on] her children, nothing is going to be successful.”

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Britney Spears is “furious” her ex-husband Kevin Federline has not been required to undergo a drugs test in their ongoing custody battle, according to reports.

Spears lost physical custody of her sons - Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one - earlier this month, after reportedly ignoring a string of court-imposed demands and skipping mandatory drug tests.

The troubled pop superstar was ordered to submit to random drug tests at an earlier court hearing, after being branded a “habitual, frequent and continuous” user of drugs and alcohol by Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon.

But Spears, 25, is angered by the apparent preferential treatment the court has shown towards dancer Federline.

A close pal tells British newspaper The Sun: “She is furious. She believes the court is more sympathetic towards Kevin.”

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Feuding Britney Spears and Kevin Federline have reunited in Beverly Hills, California to discuss parenting issues.

The former couple met at the Beverly Hills Hotel yesterday to begin a ‘Parenting Without Conflict’ program - a six-week course that Spears is required to take as part of the pair’s ongoing child custody battle.

The program suggests parents take the course together, but it is not mandatory.

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Britney Spears has won modified visitation rules that allow her two boys to spend one night a week with her after taking her case to a US court.

The pop star’s lawyer requested her mother become the required court-appointed monitor.

Spears made a surprise appearance in the Los Angeles courtroom yesterday after Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon held a morning hearing on her emergency request to expand visitation but declined to rule.

He gave attorneys for Spears and her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, who was recently granted custody, more time to discuss the matter outside court.

Spears was previously allowed monitored visits with the children but no overnight stays.

Neither she nor her attorneys spoke to reporters after the closed, afternoon hearing.

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A judge has ordered Britney Spears to complete three joint counselling sessions with her ex-husband Kevin Federline before their next child custody hearing on October 26.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon also ruled that Spears must abide to strict drug testing regulations or her monitored visitation privileges with her two children will be taken away.

Spears lost physical custody of her sons after reportedly ignoring a string of court-imposed demands and skipping mandatory drug tests.

The further details of Wednesday’s temporary ruling - at which Federline was told he’ll retain custody of Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one - were revealed in court documents released yesterday.

Gordon said that “a missed (drug) test, refusal to submit to a test, or failure to respond to the testing agency’s call” shall be deemed by the court as a failed test.”

At the closed hearing, the judge added that a court-imposed monitor “shall terminate visitation immediately if any conduct or action by (Spears) endangers the minor children.”

Spears must also attend three individual counselling meetings before the October 26 hearing.

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