Britney Spears' conservatorship ends after 13 years

Britney Spears’ conservatorship is over, a judge ruled Friday.

The 39-year-old pop star has been under legal guardianship for 13 years after publicly dealing with mental health issues that came to a head in 2008. Spears has been trying to end her conservatorship for more than a year in order to regain her independence and have a say in her medical care.

“The court finds the conservatorship of Britney Jean Spears is no longer required,” said Judge Brenda Penny during a court hearing Friday.

The hearing took 31 minutes and Spears did not appear by phone or video, according to NBC.

“Good God I love my fans so much it’s crazy,” Spears wrote in an Instagram post after the hearing. “I think I’m gonna cry the rest of the day.”

In recent months, Spears has been permitted to hire her own attorney — Hollywood lawyer Mathew Rosengart — and petitioned to have a certified public accountant take over control of her conservatorship after levying abuse claims against her father James Spears.

James Spears has publicly denied these accusations. In late September, Penny suspended James Spears as his daughter’s guardian and named California accountant John Zabel as the temporary conservator of Spears’ finances. Zabel will remain in place temporarily to help Spears with any lingering financial issues.

Penny called the situation “toxic” and “not tenable” before suspending James Spears from his post.

“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,” Rosengart told reporters during a press conference after the hearing.

Earlier this summer, it was unclear if Spears would be granted freedom from her conservatorship, but a whirlwind of emotional personal testimony from the pop star coupled with several damning documentaries pushed the #FreeBritney movement further into the public eye. Fans have gathered outside the Los Angeles-based courthouse during each hearing waving banners of support for the pop star.

When James Spears encountered health issues in 2019, Jodi Montgomery, a licensed private fiduciary, was appointed in a temporary role within the conservatorship. Montgomery has reportedly developed a care plan with therapists and doctors that will guide Spears through the end of her conservatorship and beyond.

There could be more courtroom battles in Spears’ future, however. Rosengart has vowed to pursue an investigation of James Spears’ role in the conservatorship, including how he handled Spears’ finances and allegations that he placed a listening device placed in the pop star’s bedroom.

“Many people have asked about whether we will continue to investigate Mr. Spears,” Rosengart said. “The answer ultimately is up to my client Britney.”

James Spears recently hired Alex Weingarten, a partner within the litigation department at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, to represent him. Previously, he had been represented by Vivian Thoreen, an executive partner of Holland & Knight’s Los Angeles office.

This case has led to larger inquiries about the current conservatorship system and how it is applied and upheld, particularly when it comes to entertainment icons who continue to perform and generate millions in income for their estates, even while under court oversight.

Spears’ estate was estimated to be worth between $50 million and $60 million at the end of her conservatorship.

“I’m so proud of her. I thank her for her courage and poise and power,” Rosengart said. “She helped shine a light on conservatorships and guardianships from coast to coast.”

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[bvegannow]

Free britney. Make the judge and those who forced her into that go to jail and pay her compensation. Ban forced or coerced anything based on mental illness label or status. Ban mandatory treatment. As long as the person isn't touching or endangering others property without permission and if they want to do something like smoke they understand the risks and benifits, leave them alone. We have the right to self ownership, not to be treated like livestock, our body our choice. Forced or coerced anything based on mental illness status or label is a violation of liberty. Everyone is mentally ill according to dsm5.
Britney is probably smarter and more mentally fit than those who forced her into it. Those who forced her into it are sick.

[pablobrito]

ITS BRITNEY FREE!!!
No one should be a slave and be a money machine for Anyone
HIT IT BABY ONE MORE TIME...

[kcroeder]

Lol why do they keep showing old photos of her father? Anyways, so happy for Britney <3 She's not done yet. They will all go to jail, and she WILL get all her money back.

[lollypop]

Thank god for mercy for this beautiful lady

[jessamalala]

Next but not too late move is to retrieve ALL memorabilia from his daughter's career from him that he keeps in a storage facility and that he’s probably putting his hands on already knowing the value of all that. That’s all hers not his She earned all. Hurry up and get them all Mr

[heatherc.]

Let Britney free n let freedom ring! God has spoken!

[josephangelosy]

Congrats Britney!!!God has answered all our prayera!!!

[SIKE]

she'll be broke in less than five years.