Britney Spearsis free — the singer will no longer be under the conservatorship that has ruled her life for the last 13 years, effective immediately.
On Friday, Los Angeles County judge Brenda Penny approved Jamie Spears' petition to end the conservatorship of his 39-year-old daughter Britney, after the singer made clear over the summer that she wanted out of the legal situation, in which she’s been embroiled for more than a decade.
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While Britney’s conservatorship of the estate and of the person have been terminated, temporary conservator John Zabel will have “administrative powers” in Britney’s trust and estate. Meanwhile, her personal conservator Montgomery will “be there for anything she needs,” according to Montgomery’s attorney Wright.
Britney Spears.Image group LA/Disney/Getty
At the start of the hearing, Britney’s attorney Mathew Rosengart stated, “I don’t want to bury the lede — we believe the conservatorship as a practical matter should end today.”
He added that papers were filed on the estate side as well and that an “orderly transfer of power” was in the works.
“I just wanted to make the court aware that the safety net has been put in place both in regard to the financial side and the personal side,” he said.
Britney Spears.Kevin Mazur/Getty
Both Jamie’s attorney Alex M. Weingarten and conservator of Britney’s person Jodi Montgomery’s attorney Lauriann Wright told the court they had nothing to add. Britney’s mother Lynne’s attorney Gladstone Jones stated that Lynne was “supportive” of the decision. She appeared on camera for part of the hearing, while Jamie also joined remotely via phone.
A hearing set for Dec. 8 was canceled and will instead take place on Jan. 19 at 1:30 local time.
Jamie Spears wasremoved from his role as Britney’s estate conservatoron Sept. 29, one week after the pop star’s attorney, Rosengart, asked the court to suspend him. John Zabel was appointed as temporary conservator to execute trust estate planning documents and supplemental documents, Judge Penny ruled.
At the time, Jamie’s previous lawyer Vivian L. Thoreen had pushed for immediate termination of the conservatorship as opposed to Jamie’s suspension.
RELATED VIDEO: Britney Spears and Sam Asghari Are Engaged: ‘I Can’t … Believe It!’
“These facts make the outcome of yesterday’s hearing all the more disappointing, and frankly, a loss for Britney. Respectfully, the court was wrong to suspend Mr. Spears, put a stranger in his place to manage Britney’s estate, and extend the very conservatorship that Britney begged the court to terminate earlier this summer,” the statement read, noting that it was Jamie who “took the initiative” to file the petition to terminate the conservatorship in the first place, and who asked to have it terminated again at another recent hearing.
In early September, Britney’s father said in a court filing that Spears “is entitled to have this Court now seriously consider whether this conservatorship is no longer required,” which Britney’s team described as a “massive legal victory.”
Lynne Spears and Britney Spears.Getty (2)
“Recent events related to this conservatorship have called into question whether circumstances have changed to such an extent that grounds for establishment of a conservatorship may no longer exist,” Jamie’s filing read.
Jamie’s petition went on to reference what Britney had said during several explosive court hearings over the summer: “Ms. Spears has told this Court that she wants control of her life back without the safety rails of a conservatorship.”
“As Mr. Spears has said again and again, all he wants is what is best for his daughter,” the filing continued. “If Ms. Spears wants to terminate the conservatorship and believes that she can handle her own life, Mr. Spears believes that she should get that chance.”
Britney Spears, Jamie Spears.getty; Alex Berliner/Shutterstock
“To the extent Mr. Spears believes he can try to avoid accountability and justice, including sitting for a sworn deposition and answering other discovery under oath, he is incorrect and our investigation into financial mismanagement and other issues will continue.”
The judge’s approval comes after years of contention and an especially scrutinous summer in the conservatorship case as Britney spoke out directly in court and accused her father of conservatorship abuse.
In August, Jamie slammed the attacks he’s faced, adding that there were"no actual grounds for suspending" him from his role as estate conservator.
“As Mr. Spears has said again and again, all he wants is what is best for his daughter,” the filing said at the time. “If Ms. Spears wants to terminate the conservatorship and believes that she can handle her own life, Mr. Spears believes that she should get that chance.”
Britney Spears.Ethan Miller/Getty
Britney spoke outopenly during several court hearingsover the summer, describing her conservatorship as abusive.
“Ma’am, my dad and anyone involved in this conservatorship and my management who played a huge role in punishing me — ma’am, they should be in jail,” she told the court back in June. “I want changes going forward. I deserve changes. I was told I have to sit down and be evaluated, again, if I want to end the conservatorship. Ma’am, I didn’t know I could [contest] the conservatorship. I’m sorry for my ignorance, but I honestly didn’t know that.”
The end of the conservatorship comes at a pivotal moment in Britney’s life. In mid-September, she announced that her boyfriendSam Asghari had proposed.
“Words can’t even say how shocked I am 💍 … geez although the asshole was way overdue 😜 !!!!“Spears wroteabout Asghari, 27. “It was definitely worth the wait.”
source: people.com
