So much for seeing Britney Spears and Kevin Federline square off in court.
The legal saga that has surrounded the reforming pop star and her wannabe rapper ex-husband for nearly two years is drawing to a close… for now.
The former couple has reportedly reached a settlement in their prolonged and at times ugly custody battle over their two young sons.
While the agreement has yet to be authorized by a judge, reports say Federline will retain sole custody of 2-year-old Preston and 1-year-old Jayden. Meanwhile, Spears who currently sees the boys three times a week (with one overnight visitation) will score an additional overnight placement by the end of the year.
The settlement is a major development in the ongoing chaos that is Spears vs. Federline because it essentially averts a high profile trial that would have caused a media frenzy in Los Angeles.
Reports say Britney Spears’ father Jamie (whom retains conservatorship over the pop star turned actress and controls her personal affairs and finances) wanted to avoid the expense and emotional drama associated with a full-blown trial and was able to sway his oldest daughter into settling. What’s more, legal experts (not associated with Spears’ case) say Britney had more to lose than gain in taking the case to trial since there was little to no chance that a judge would grant her legal custody of her sons while she remains under conservatorship.
A year ago Brit shared 50-50 custody of her sons with Federline, but that privilege was stripped from her shortly after she was hospitalized (against her will) earlier this year for mental health issues.
Still, according to experts, this is far from the last we’ll see of Britney and Kevin as they continue their journey through the court system.
One family lawyer, who is not involved in the case, told reporters that until Spears and Federline’s sons turn 18 the two parents will be back in court fighting for custody. Experts agree that Spears will likely petition the court for more time with her boys once she regains control of her life and her father is no longer overseeing her personal affairs.