Britney Spears' father has met with a judge to discuss the custody of her two sons.

The singer – whose dad Jamie Spears is co-conservator of her personal and professional affairs – is reportedly desperate to regain control of her life, and the meeting is seen as a step forward in easing the conservatorship.

An insider told RadarOnline.com: 'This is a step in the process for Britney to go through before the conservatorship ends. Along with a psychological evaluation, and a child custody evaluation, among other things will be part of the evidence Judge Goetz looks at in determining when it will end.'

It is believed an expert in child custody will have had to be brought in to assess the state of the singer's mental health.

Britney's ex-husband Kevin Federline still officially has sole custody of their children, four-year-old Sean Preston and Jayden James, three, though the tots split their time between both parents.

Despite the meeting being viewed as a step forward for the singer, it was recently claimed she is 'not ready' to regain control of her affairs.

"Britney's just not ready, yet. She has her good days and bad days. Britney has complex issues on a personal and professional level, and that is the reason the conservatorship is still in place."

Jamie and lawyer Andrew Wallet were made co-conservators of her personal and professional affairs after the 28-year-old star's public breakdown in 2008.