Britney Spears asks judge to end father’s control over her finances and personal life

Britney Spears has officially asked a judge to permanently end her father’s control over her finances and personal life.

The singer, 39, has been subject to a court-ordered conservatorship since 2008 after suffering two mental breakdowns.

This means her father Jamie Spears, 68, has been in charge of all her financial and personal affairs ever since, temporarily stepping down from the latter role in September 2019 due to health reasons.

A care professional called Jodi Montgomery replaced him on a temporary basis, but the star now wants her to be made her conservator permanently.

The Los Angeles court documents also show she wants to be able to completely end the controversial arrangement entirely if necessary.

It reads: “Petitioner expressly reserves the right to petition for termination of this conservatorship under Probate Code section 1861.

“Nothing in the within petition shall be deemed to constitute a waiver of that right.”

The petition has been filed to the judge, with the next hearing due to take place next month.

Last week fans gathered outside the courthouse with ‘Free Britney’ placards.

Her supporters have consistently protested the arrangement, with the recent Framing Britney Spears documentary shining fresh light on the matter.

The court papers, filed by her lawyer Samuel D Ingham III, reveal some of the powers the conservators have over the star.

They include the power to “restrict and limit” visitors to her – aside from Mr Ingham, the ability to retain “caretakers and security guards”, and powers to prosecute civil harassment restraining orders on the star’s behalf.

If Ms Montgomery’s appointment becomes permanent, she will also be able to speak with medical professionals about Spears and access her medical records.

Mr Spears remains co-conservator of his daughter’s $60m (£43.8m) estate despite her previous pleas for him to be removed from the role.

She has previously tried and failed to remove him as conservator with claims she will not perform again until she succeeds.

Legal experts who have commented on the case say conservatorships are almost impossible to end as their subjects are often unable to prove they are of sound mind following mental health issues.

 

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