Amy Winehouse Entrusts Parents With Fortune

There are many people who say Amy Winehouse is the British version of Britney Spears. Now the pair have one more thing in common, as Winehouse's parents control her finances.

Winehouse has entrusted her parents with the control of her fortune, which is said to be worth 15 million British pounds (about $26.6 million Canadian), according to Britain's Daily Mirror tabloid. But she can't spend any of it unless her parents, Janis and Mitch Winehouse, say she can.

Some of the singer's friends think the conservatorship is a good decision, since it will keep Winehouse's money away from her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, who's still in jail. Fielder-Civil recently said he wants to divorce Winehouse because of an alleged fling the singer had in St. Lucia, where she's been on holiday.

"Mitch convinced Amy she needs a safety valve for the money for her own good – to stop her doing anything rash or daft," one of Winehouse's friends told the Daily Mirror.

"She can be very impetuous and the family wanted to protect her. She cannot make a sudden decision.

"Her dad was also worried she might be tempted to go back to Blake – and put him in charge. That is now impossible.

"This would never have happened before, certainly not when she was with Blake. It's her money and nobody else can touch it. But she can't do anything stupid."

Winehouse can no longer make any payments or loans, hire staff, change bank arrangements or appoint a director of her Cherry Westfield company without her parents' consent.

The Daily Mirror says Winehouse and her parents sealed the deal on Jan. 16, when Mitch Winehouse delivered the documents to the singer in St. Lucia.

The conservatorship comes just after news that Winehouse's London, England home was burglarized last week.

The U.K.'s The Guardian newspaper reports that thieves made off with five guitars and 15,000 pounds' worth of Winehouse's possessions, including a flat-screen television and recording equipment. Winehouse has her favourite guitar with her in St. Lucia, and BBC's 6Music radio station has reported that police have recovered some of the stolen items.