People News

Amy Winehouse's parents control her money

Feb 1, 2009, 11:00 GMT

08/17/2008 - Amy Winehouse - "Everyone is pleased because it means Amy is listening to good advice. It\'s still her money and nobody else can touch it. It is evidence that Amy is really turning her life around." © Landmark / PR Photos

Amy Winehouse has given her parents control of her estimated £15 million fortune.

The troubled singer - who is currently trying to beat her drug problems and get healthy while on holiday in the Caribbean - signed an agreement stating she cannot spend her money unless her mother Janis or father Mitch gives the go-ahead.

A source said: "Mitch convinced Amy she needs a safety valve for the money for her own good - to stop her doing anything rash of daft.

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

"Everyone is pleased because it means Amy is listening to good advice. It's still her money and nobody else can touch it. It is evidence that Amy is really turning her life around."

Mitch personally took the document to the 25-year-old singer while she was on holiday, and she signed it with her close friend artist Blake Wood acting as a witness.

Documents lodged at Companies House show Amy - who is being divorced by her jailed husband Blake Fielder Civil over claims of infidelity - is the sole beneficiary of her business Cherry Westfield, owning all 100 shares.

However, on January 16 she agreed "articles of association", giving her parents voting rights which restrict her.

Either Mitch or Janis must agree to any decision about the company, meaning Amy can't pay profits, make payments or loans, hire staff, appoint a director or change bank arrangements without her parents support.

A friend explained to Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper: "Amy's dad was 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."

Blake is currently in prison serving a 27-month sentence for attempting to pervert the course of justice and Grievous Bodily Harm.