Britney Spears to Address Court in Conservatorship Case

Samuel D Ingham III, the lawyer of Britney Spears, stated that she requested to address the court directly about her conservatorship.

In 2008, Spears was put under her care of her father, Jamie, by a court-ordered conservatorship amid struggles with her mental health, however, she has consistently fought back against the order.

A documentary released earlier this year has sparked renewed scrutiny over the arrangement.

The judge set a hearing date for 23 June. It is unclear if Spears will appear in person or what she plans to say.

Since she was first placed under the conservatorship, Spears has rarely commented on the matter herself. Last summer, she indicated through lawyers that she no longer wants her father to return as the sole conservator of her affairs and finances.

The pop star also stated that she was scared of her father and will not resume her singing career while he has power over it.

What is the legal arrangement?

A conservatorship is when a guardian or protector is appointed by a court to manage the life of someone due to physical or mental limitations.

In 2008, Spears was put under her father’s care amid struggles with her mental health, however, she has consistently fought back against the order.

Jamie co-conservator with lawyer Andrew M. Wallet for the first 11 years of the conservatorship, but resigned in 2019, giving Jamie sole control over her life— a situation she does not want to see repeated.

In 2018, the largest expense of Britney’s estate was her legal and conservator fees, which, in total, equaled over $1.1 million for that year.

The court granted Jamie to be paid around $130,000 annually by his daughter’s estate for his role as a conservator.

In August 2020, Britney started to choose who will oversee her life and money once again – and has taken her fight to court.

The singer strongly objected to her father returning as her conservator and wants to make her approved replacement, Jodi Montgomery, take on the role permanently.

In September, she even asked that a corporate fiduciary, the Bessemer Trust, becomes a conservator of her finances instead of her father.

The arrangement has been the subject of widespread online protests for months, with many arguing it is doing the performer more harm than good.

Kevin Federline, her ex-husband, has custody of her teenage sons, with Spears premised to visit frequently.

Last month, Spears requested the resignation of her father as her permanent conservator and that Montgomery's current role as temporary conservator be made permanent.