Aunt Gets Custody of Tiffany for Now

Tiffany Darwish, the 16-year-old pop star who is seeking legal adult status in an effort to control her career, has been granted a temporary guardian until a final ruling is rendered by the court.

Attorney John Frankenheimer, who was retained this week to represent the singer known as Tiffany, said the court has approved her aunt, Julie Abbas, as her guardian. The court’s action supersedes the Norwalk sheriff’s office designation of the singer as a runaway, Frankenheimer said.

“She has sought independent legal counsel and is in the process of obtaining independent accountants, solely on her own,” Frankenheimer said.

Until this week, Tiffany had been represented by attorneys who also represent her manager, George Tobin. It was with their help that Tiffany filed an emancipation request last month with Los Angeles Superior Court in an effort to take control of her career. A little-used section of the California Civil Code allows youngsters over 14 to act as adults in contract and money matters if the court concurs.

A court spokesman said Friday that Judge Richard Ibanez, who first heard the case two weeks ago, had not yet rendered a decision. Ibanez referred the case to a dependency court mediator and postponed any decision until he hears the mediator’s recommendation.

“Tiffany is a very bright, mature young woman in terms of her current status, and we have every reason to believe that maturity will be recognized,” Frankenheimer said.

Tiffany’s mother, Janie Williams, has had sole custody of the singer since her 1985 divorce from Tiffany’s stepfather, Dan Williams. For several months, however, Tiffany has been caught in a struggle between Mrs. Williams and Tobin, her producer-manager.

Tobin’s 2-year-old contract with the singer gives his production company half of her record royalty earnings. Music industry sources conservatively estimate those royalties to total more than $3 million so far.

Tiffany and Tobin have been in Scottsdale, Ariz., this week on the first leg of a monthlong series of concerts, capitalizing on the enormous sales of her first album for MCA Records, “Tiffany.” The LP has spawned three Top 10 hits since its release eight months ago and has sold more than 4 million copies.