Britney lost custody of her boys, Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one, after an emergency hearing yesterday. The details were not made public, with the judge ordering her that K-Fed “is to retain physical custody of the minor children on Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at 12:00 PM until further order of the court.”

There’s a lot of news about this case today and I’ll try to cover most of it here.

How did Britney lose custody?
Remember the extensive list of things Britney had to do to retain custody of her boys? She had to visit a parenting coach, go to counseling, undergo twice-weekly drug testing, take a parenting course, and attend weekly co-parenting sessions with K-Fed.

TMZ reports that not only did Britney fail to do a single one of those requirements, she didn’t even sign the judge’s order!

There’s some speculation that Britney failed a drug test, and there were pictures that came out of her looking teary after supposedly going to a test. I saw those photos attributed as Britney crying outside her lawyer’s office too, so it’s not clear whether she actually submitted to a drug testing session, and TMZ is reporting that she didn’t.

Along with going out partying right after hearing that she would have to give up drinking and doing drugs in order to keep her boys, it surely counted against her that she was cited for a hit and run in a parking lot fender bender, and for driving without a license.

And with her bodyguard telling everyone who would listen that she nearly ODed and that her behavior was so bizarre that he was afraid for the safety of her children, she’s doesn’t seem to be a competent mother.

What did Britney do after she lost her boys?
She went tanning, to the DMV and then went out.

WENN has photos of Britney looking oddly upbeat after she was told she would lose custody. She was photographed outside her place with a big smile on her face. Maybe she was putting one on for the cameras or maybe she expected to lose custody and was relieved that it was over.

Britney went out last night as expected. While she didn’t hit Hyde, she did go to the Penninsula Hotel, and was seen leaving in an SUV with a driver.

US Weekly reports that Britney was unemotional after handing over her children. The official custody changes on Wednesday at noon, but it seems as if the boys are already with K-Fed, as they were not seen out with her after the court hearing and other news outlets have reported that they are with K-Fed at this time.

Should Britney be driving?
While Britney doesn’t have a California driver’s license, she does have one that’s valid in her home state of Louisiana until 2009.

She was supposed to apply for a license within 10 days of residing in California, though. X17 notes that she could get around requirements that she obtain a license in California because it’s possible she never established residency under California requirements, which state that you are a resident if you are registered to vote, working in the state, paying tuition as a student in state, or have filed a homeowner’s tax exemption. She self-employed so if she never registered to vote it’s possible she could be found not guilty of driving without a license.

She did visit the DMV yesterday after the custody hearing to apply for a license in California.

Fears for Britney’s mental health and possible suicide risk
Everyone is speculating that Britney might try to commit suicide after losing her children. Even though it seems like she wanted to lose custody – she didn’t even sign the judge’s order – she may be conflicted and upset about it.

EOnline quotes Dr. Drew Pinksy, host of radio show Loveline, as saying “you have somebody who will become suicidal, I’m totally convinced.”

Her bodyguard said she talked of suicide, so it’s possible this will send her over the edge. She seems to have been teetering there for quite a while.

She desperately needs help, but it doesn’t matter if the whole world is watching and telling her to get to therapy and rehab. Britney will continue to do what she wants, and now she won’t have to worry about anything or anyone holding her back.

She wants her childhood back, and for her that means indulging every whim and making sure we watch while she f8$#s up.

Picture note: Britney is shown on Sunday at Taverna Tony’s with her children. Sorry the children’s faces are blurred, Splash does that now.