Is Britney Spears Finally Free from Her Conservatorship?

 Posted on November 08,2021 in Estate Planning

Jamie Spears, Britney Spears’s father, is no longer serving as her conservator. His suspension came amid allegations that he had mishandled his daughter’s funds. The conservatorship gave Jamie Spears almost complete control over Britney’s finances and many other aspects of her life. The decision to place Britney under a conservatorship was controversial in the first place. Although the singer was undoubtedly experiencing mental health problems, legal questions remained about whether her public breakdown truly constituted the level of incompetency required to impose a conservatorship.

What did Jamie Spears Legally do Wrong?

Jamie Spears has faced a lot of public backlash about how he managed his daughter’s life during the conservatorship. Allegations that he forced Britney to keep performing for profit, placed unreasonable restrictions on her personal life and mismanaged her funds abound.

Conservators are fiduciaries, meaning that they are obligated to put aside their own personal interests and act solely in the best interests of the person who is the subject of the conservatorship. Britney Spears alleges that he has done the opposite. The star alleges that rather than helping Britney, all Jamie has done is take away her freedoms - and her money.

An accounting of Britney’s finances revealed that Jamie had used roughly two million dollars of his daughter’s money on his own legal defense and in an effort to remain her conservator. Although the law allows conservators to take reasonable fees for managing the conservatorship, Britney alleges that her father has taken an excessive amount for himself.

Can Britney Sue Jamie?

Britney Spears has stated that she intends to file a lawsuit against her father for conservatorship abuse. After a protracted legal battle, Britney was finally able to hire an attorney of her own choosing. She has now filed to end the conservatorship entirely - a move that Jamie, interestingly, claims to support. If Britney is able to end her conservatorship, then she will be free to file a lawsuit. If, however, the court chooses to continue her conservatorship, she will need the support of her new conservator to bring a case.

It seems likely that the conservatorship will soon be over. If Britney can show that she is able to manage her own affairs, the court should grant her request. Conservatorships serve the important legal purpose of making sure people who genuinely cannot manage their own finances and affairs can have someone appointed to do it for them. Unfortunately, there is always a potential for abuse.

Contact an Illinois Estate Planning Lawyer

If you would like to learn more about conservatorships and how they can help you manage affairs for an aging or disabled loved one, Lucas Law is here to help. While Britney Spears’s conservatorship may have been used abusively, most conservatorships are simply a way for families to manage finances, healthcare, and other concerns for a loved one who is not able to. Our capable Barrington estate planning attorneys are happy to provide you with more information about how a conservatorship could help your loved one. Call 847-381-8700 to schedule a confidential consultation.

Sources:

https://people.com/music/britney-spears-father-jamie-files-request-to-immediately-terminate-her-conservatorship/

https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/britney-spears-father-brings-new-attorney-following-conservatorship-suspension-n1281921