Britney Spears’ father files petition to end conservatorship

Photographer: Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images

The pop star’s attorney calls the court filing a ‘vindication’ of her efforts to regain independence.

The long battle by Britney Spears to end her father’s role as conservator may be drawing to a close. On Tuesday, her father filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court to end the arrangement, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press and CNN.

Jamie Spears cited his daughter’s pleas at two separate court hearings over the summer in his request to terminate the 13-year conservatorship, CNN reported.

“Recent events related to this conservatorship have called into question whether circumstances have changed to such an extent that grounds for establishment of a conservatorship may no longer exist,” the petition said.

“Ms. Spears has told this Court that she wants control of her life back without the safety rails of a conservatorship. She wants to be able to make decisions regarding her own medical care, deciding when, where and how often to get therapy. She wants to control the money she has made from her career and spend it without supervision or oversight. She wants to be able to get married and have a baby, if she so chooses. In short, she wants to live her life as she chooses without the constraints of a conservator or court proceeding,” according to the filing.

[More: Britney Spears’ struggle for independence puts a spotlight on conservatorships]

Mathew Rosengart, attorney for Britney Spears, called Tuesday’s development “vindication.”

In a filing in August, Mr. Spears had said that he planned to step down as the conservator of his daughter’s finances but did not provide a timeframe. In 2019, he gave up control over her life decisions, keeping only his role overseeing her money.

[More: Britney Spears’ fight for financial freedom holds lessons for advisers]