Britney Spears freed from 13year-long Conservatorship
Britney Spears’ conservatorship has been terminated officially after nearly 14 years. Judge Brenda Penny dissolved the legal arrangement during Friday afternoon’s hearing, granting the pop star’s earlier request for it to end without undergoing additional mental evaluations.
“The conservatorship of the person and estate of Britney Jean Spears is no longer required,” the judge declared.
Britney shared a video of the hundreds of #FreeBritney supporters who were at the courthouse in Los Angeles on Friday.
“I love my fans so much it’s crazy,” she captioned the post. “I think I’m gonna cry the rest of the day !!!! Best day ever…”
Britney’s attorney Mathew Rosengart, who was appointed only four months ago, addressed reporters after the hearing — which lasted less than 30 minutes.
“What’s next for Britney, and this is the first time this could be said for about a decade, is up to one person: Britney,” he said as a crowd of #FreeBritney supporters cheered. Rosengart noted the singer has been set up in a position “to succeed” post-conservatorship.
“We have a safety net in place for Britney, both on the personal side and on the financial side,” he added. “But Britney as of today is a free woman and she’s an independent woman and the rest, with her support system, will be up to Britney.”
Britney and her multimillion-dollar estate have been under the control of father Jamie Spears for more than a decade and his role has also been terminated. Certified public accountant John Zabel, who was approved to temporarily take over as conservator of the estate in September, will stay on to ensure a smooth transition in regard to Britney’s finances.
“This week is gonna be very interesting for me,” Britney wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post earlier this week. “I haven’t prayed for something more in my life. I know I’ve said some things on my [Instagram] out of anger and I’m only human and I believe you’d feel the same way if you were me.”
‘Her life was in Shambles’
A judge in Los Angeles on Friday ended the conservatorship set up by the 39-year-old singer’s father in 2008 with immediate effect.
Fans had gathered outside the LA court to support Spears, who had described the guardianship as abusive.
Her father Jamie earlier said it was “necessary”, but agreed it was time for her “to re-take control of her life”.
“Her life was in shambles and she was in physical, emotional, mental and financial distress,” lawyers representing Jamie Spears said in earlier court filings.
The conservatorship had power over her finances and career decisions plus major personal matters, such as her visits with her teenage sons and whether she can get remarried.
On Friday, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny ruled in favour of the singer’s request to end it, which was not opposed by any of the parties involved.
In a court appearance in June, the star asked the judge to end the “abusive” arrangement and said she was “traumatised”.
Addressing the court remotely, she said she had been drugged, forced to perform against her will and prevented from getting married and having more children.
Her testimony led her father to agree to step aside.
A conservatorship is used for people who cannot make their own decisions and was put in place because of concerns about her mental health.
Yahoo/BBC/Hauwa Abu
