Britney Spears's father was granted legal control of his daughter until Dec. 31, a court ruled Thursday.

Jamie Spears, 56, was named temporary conservator of her affairs on Feb. 1 following his 26-year-old daughter's two forced hospitalizations in January. The conservatorship has been extended until the end of the year, but a progress review of the case has been set for Oct. 28.

"The extension of the conservatorship was at the request and suggestion of Britney's doctors," says a source close to the singer. "They've indicated she's made great improvement, but it's a work in progress. Jamie Spears doesn't want the conservatorship to last a day longer than the doctors recommend."

Jamie has sole authority over whom his daughter has contact with, and has hired security guards to watch her 24 hours a day. He shares control with another lawyer over her multimillion-dollar estate.

Earlier Thursday, Spears's court-appointed attorney, Samuel D. Ingham III, told the Associated Press that he wouldn't seek to extend the restraining order against the singer's one-time pal Sam Lufti, because Spears has cut all ties with Lufti anyway.

Ingham also said that the restraining order is no longer necessary because Jamie can legally control whom his daughter sees: "During the temporary conservatorship, the conservators have the power to insure that Lufti will not harm Britney anymore."