Pop star Britney Spears successfully had her father suspended as conservator for her estate. Spears, who has been under a legal conservatorship since 2008, celebrated the victory, although she said she has “a lot of healing to do.” In the meantime, she will remain under a temporary conservatorship, until another hearing on ending the conservatorship entirely this November.
Who is Britney Spears?
Britney Spears was once one of the most successful pop stars in the United States, scoring numerous hits throughout the late 90s and early 2000s with songs like “Baby One More Time,” “Oops!… I Did It Again,” and “Toxic.” However, in 2008 she suffered a public mental breakdown, which led to her father Jamie Spears being appointed her conservator in California. Though she has continued to perform while under the conservatorship, all control over her personal and professional life was handled by her father.
What is a Conservatorship?
In California, a conservatorship is a where the Court appoints someone (known as a conservator or guardian) to handle the legal, financial, and medical affairs of another person (known as a ward). The conservator has a legal duty to act in their ward’s best interests and to manage the ward’s finances and property in a reasonable manner. They also must report to the court that imposed the conservatorship about the state of the ward’s affairs, as a way of preventing potential abuse.
In New York State, there is no conservatorship. In New York, the courts will appoint a Guardian to handle a person’s affairs which is similar to the Conservatorship in California.
Why Did Britney Spears Want to End Her Conservatorship?
Beginning in 2019, Britney Spears began a legal battle to remove her father from his role as her conservator and to have the conservatorship ended entirely. She alleged that her father abused his position as her conservator to financially enrich himself and that he deliberately used his position to keep her isolated and medicated against her will. Jamie Spears denied the allegations, asserting that he only acted in his daughter’s best interests and that he had not financially exploited her.
What Does This Court Decision Mean?
With Jamie Spears removed from the conservatorship, he will no longer have legal authority over his daughter. However, Britney herself will remain under the conservatorship, with another person acting as a temporary conservator while legal proceedings are ongoing. The next hearing on the matter, which is scheduled for November 12, 2021, will determine if the conservatorship will continue under a new permanent conservator, or if it will end completely.
If you or a loved one are dealing with legal issues related to guardianships, or you are dealing with any other issue related to elder law, you will need specialized legal advice. The attorneys at Hobson-Williams, P.C. are skilled in all aspects of elder law, and are dedicated to representing clients with diligence and compassion. To speak to an attorney or to schedule a consultation, call 866-825-1LAW.
Written by Tanya Hobson-Williams
Appointed to the bench by the Board of Trustees in 2008, and elected in 2009, Tanya Hobson-Williams was the first African-American Female Justice in the Incorporated Village of Hempstead. Tanya Hobson–Williams obtained her B.A. in Government and Politics from St. John’s University and her law degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Tanya Hobson-Williams has an active elder law practice assisting senior citizens in obtaining Medicaid for Home Care and Nursing Home Care. She routinely lectures at senior citizen centers, assisted living facilities, law schools and counsels families on a variety of topics of concerns to families caring for the elderly.
