Restraining order filed against Spears

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- A temporary restraining order was filed against Britney Spears in Los Angeles when she refused to return her sons to their father at the end of a visit.

Los Angeles Police Department officers last Thursday secured an emergency protective order, which is enforced for five business days, to "stabilize the situation," Kevin Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, told People.com.

Federline is Spears' ex-husband and the father of her two young children. He has physical and legal custody of the boys.

Kaplan didn't ask for the restraining order and declined to reveal whether he would request to extend it.

"Kevin doesn't want to keep his kids from being involved in (Spears') life. But foremost is that the kids be in an environment of structure (and) stability. The next goal is to get things to a point where both parents are able to participate fully in their (children's) lives," Kaplan told People.com.

Spears was hospitalized for drug testing and a psychological evaluation last week after police were called to her home because she refused to give her children back at the end of a court-sanctioned visit.

She subsequently lost all visitation rights. A custody hearing is scheduled next week.