Spears racks up huge legal bill

Spears' father has been put in charge of her affairs

Britney Spears has paid out more than $700,000 (�376,215) in legal fees in her child custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Two law firms which represented Spears have submitted legal bills into court worth $466,000 (�250,326).

This is on top of the $250,000 (�134,358) the singer had already agreed to pay Federline's lawyers.

The pair eventually agreed Spears could spend more time with their two sons, while Federline retained sole custody.

Spears was represented by three separate teams during the legal tussle.

Contested bill

Laura Wasser, who negotiated the deal, is seeking $60,000 (�32,246) for two months working on the case.

Lawyer Stacy D Phillips is claiming $407,000 (�218,716) for four months work, but it is thought this figure will be contested by Spears' current legal team when the figures are finalised by a Los Angeles court commissioner.

Spears lost custody of Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one, in October last year.

There also followed a period of erratic behaviour which culminated in a stand-off with police at her home and a brief spell in a psychiatric ward.

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