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Britney Spears has been freed from a 13-year conservatorship.
Brenda Penny, a Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge,, announced the conservatorship’s termination on Friday, Nov. 12.
The termination of the conservatorship applies to both the estate and the person of Britney Spears.
The respected Judge asserts, “The court finds and determines that the conservatorship of the person and estate of Britney Jean Spears is no longer required,” ruled Judge Brenda Penny. “The conservatorship of the person and estate of Britney Jean Spears is hereby terminated.”
John Zabel, an accountant, will retain some powers as a “safety net,” Rosengarten told the judge.
He said, “the two powers include the execution of estate planning documents and the power to transfer assets outside of Britney’s Trust into her Trust.”
Morganable News can confirm that Britney Spears did not attend the hearing.
The popular pop star did not attend the court session nor did she dial in on the call listening to the hearing.
However, her father, former conservator Jamie Spears and her mother, Lynne Spears attended.
Also, Jodi Montgomery, her former conservator of the person, and John Zabel, the new temporary conservator of her finances, also dialled in.
Britney’s lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, was also in court, however, only lawyers in the case spoke at the hearing.
Her Understandably Ecstatic Fans
The good news emanated from the courtroom after about 40 minutes of hearing, sending the crowd of her waiting fans into a raptorious frenzy and screams.
On Instagram, one of her fans wrote about Britney Spears while sharing videos of the courtroom situation: “Good God I love my fans so much it’s crazy!!!”
“I think I’m gonna cry the rest of the day !!!! Best day ever … praise the Lord … can I get an Amen.”
Attorneys’ Positions
The attorney of Ms Spears asserts that: “Ms Spears, obviously fully maintains the position that it is time after more than a decade for the conservatorship to be terminated entirely,” he told the judge.
“The record is clear…that the time has come today to end the conservatorship.”
Alex Weingarten, Jamie’s Spears’ lawyer said his legal team had “nothing to add.
“We affirm our position,” Weingarten said.
“My client wants the conservatorship to end immediately.”
Jamie Spears’ Suspension
Jamie Spears was suspended from the role of conservator of his daughter’s estate in August. Britney’s lawyer called it a “massive” legal victory for the singer.
At the time, certified public accountant John Zabel was appointed temporary conservator of her estate.
Britney’s father, Jamie Spears, also expressed his support for ending the conservatorship in a report filed by his legal team on Nov. 2.
He’d served as conservator of her estate for 13 years. He fought against his removal from the position in an August opposition before filing a petition to terminate the conservatorship in September.
“Jamie unconditionally loves and supports his daughter. Full stop,” Jamie’s legal team wrote in the November report. “As he has done for her entire life, Jamie will do everything he can to protect and care for her. For the last 13 years, that included serving as her conservator. Now, it means ending her Conservatorship.”
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Britney Spear’s Position
During the June hearing, Britney Spears spoke out about the conservatorship, calling it “abusive” and asking for it to end without further psychological evaluation.
She said in a recent interview: “I just want my life back, and it’s been 13 years, and it’s enough. It’s been a long time since I’ve owned my money, and it’s my wish and my dream for all of this to end without being tested.”
What Led to All These
Spears was placed under a conservatorship in 2008 after suffering a very public breakdown the year prior that played out before the paparazzi, who captured her erratic behaviour.
Jamie and Andrew M. Wallet were appointed co-conservators of Britney’s estate. Andrew resigned from the position in 2019, making Jamie the sole conservator of the Grammy winner’s estate.
Jamie also took on the role of conservator of Britney’s person in 2008. However, he stepped down from the position in 2019, and Jodi Montgomery was appointed.
Her attorney has also accused Jamie of “financial mismanagement and other issues” related to Britney’s estate and has pledged to investigate these allegations.
However, Jamie’s lawyers wrote in the August filing that he “has dutifully and faithfully served as the conservator of his daughter’s estate without any blemishes on his record.”
The #FreeBritney movement and 2021 New York Times documentary Framing Britney Spears have been credited with bringing renewed attention to the case. On the day of the hearing, Britney’s fiancé Sam Asghari posted pictures of the couple wearing #FreeBritney T-shirts.
“#FreeBritney movement … I have no words … because of you guys and your constant resilience in freeing me from my conservatorship … my life is now in that direction !!!!!” the “Gimme More” star tweeted last month. “I cried last night for two hours cause my fans are the best and I know it.”
Now, Britney Spears is ready to move forward. “Britney is very excited to embrace her full freedom,” a source close to Sam recently.
“She wants a new life with Sam and wants to make any changes. She is excited to move on and close that chapter of her life.”
Not All Clear Afterall
While the conservatorship might be over, the hearings in the case are not.
The next one is scheduled for Jan. 19, possibly to deal with the remaining motions and petitions in her case file.
The public outcry against the conservatorship reached a fever pitch after Spears delivered an emotional testimony at a June court hearing.
She called her conservatorship “abusive” and pleaded for it to end without undergoing another psychological evaluation.
“I’ve lied and told the whole world I’m OK and happy,” she said, dialling into the hearing remotely.
“I thought that maybe if I said it enough I would maybe become happy because I’ve been in denial. I’ve been in shock. I am traumatized … I’m so angry, it’s insane. And I’m depressed.”
The pop star doubled down on her pleas at another hearing in July, calling for an “investigation” of alleged abuse she suffered under her conservatorship.
This hearing brought a big change in the pop star’s case: Judge Penny ruled she could choose her own attorney, replacing her court-appointed lawyer Samuel Ingham III, who had represented her from the beginning of the conservatorship.
Spears hired Mathew Rosengart, a former federal prosecutor-turned-skilled litigator.
He has vowed to investigate alleged misconduct by Spears’ father and longtime conservator, James “Jamie” Spears.
At the September 30 hearing, Spears won another victory. Jamie was suspended from the conservatorship and ordered to turn over all her assets, estimated at $60 million, to a temporary conservator, accountant John Zabel.
Jamie’s lawyer, Alex Weingarten “The mission has been successful and it is now time for Britney to retake control of her life,” they continued.
