Britney Spears and Kevin Federline. Photo Credit: PR PhotosJuly 17, 2008 (Sawf News) - Britney Spears and Kevin Federline are scheduled to attend a final hearing in their custody case on Friday, July 18, before the dispute comes up for settlement in August.
The hearing, earlier scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, was postponed at the request of the lawyers.
Though Federline lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, told OK! magazine that he requested the postponement because he needed more time to prepare for the hearing, it is likely the opposing parties are attempting to reach an out-of-court settlement.
Britney's lawyer in the custody dispute, Laura Wasser, probably understands that Britney stands to gain more from an out-of-court settlement since she is under a conservatorship.
Legal experts concur that a settlement represents the best option for Britney.
"If Britney goes to trial, it's a gamble," L.A. family lawyer Lynn Soodik, who's not involved with the case, told People. "Yes, she could win more time with her kids, or she could lose what's already in place."
"It's extremely rare for a parent to be under conservatorship during a custody battle," adds Soodik. "Because of this, it's in her best interest to fight for more custody only after she regains her health. A settlement can happen at any time."
Britney was placed under a conservatorship following a standoff with the police on January 2, during which she refused to relinquish custody of her two toddlers, Sean Preston, born September 14, 2005, and Jayden James, born September 12, 2006, to Kevin Federline after a scheduled visitation.
The conservatorship is scheduled for a review on July 31.
Under a divorce settlement reached by the couple in July, 2007, Britney and Kevin shared custody of their two sons equally, with the primary custody resting with Britney.
However, Britney lost physical custody of the children to Federline on October 1, 2007, after he went to court in September over her increasingly erratic lifestyle and substance abuse.
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