Britney Spears conservatorship news: Paris Hilton ‘so happy’ for singer as father agrees to step aside

Britney Spears’ lawyer ‘pleased’ by the development

Britney Spears says 'things are better than expected' amid conservatorship legal battle

After a long-running legal battle, the father of Britney Spears will reportedly step down as her conservator.

Jamie Spears says he “intends to work with the Court and his daughter’s new attorney to prepare for an orderly transition to a new conservator”.

Britney Spear’s lawyer Mathew Rosengart told the website “we are pleased but not necessarily surprised” by the development.

The conservatorship has controlled Britney Spears’s life and finances since 2008. James Spears had power over her life choices from 2008 to 2019 and controlled her financial decisions along with his attorney in that same time.

He stepped down as the conservator of his daughter’s personal matters in 2019 and was going to share power over her finances with an estate management firm, but it has withdrawn from the arrangement.

Spears’ fans celebrated the news, with actor Jude Demorest revealing that people broke out into applause at a Los Angeles restaurant upon hearing the news.

Today’s Top Stories

• Britney Spears’s father Jamie Spears agrees to step down as conservator
• Britney ‘pleased but not surprised’ as fight continues, says lawyer
• Britney responds to news by posting on Instagram: ‘Letting go is freedom’
• Famous fans react to the news: ‘Wow. It actually happened’

[13 August 2021 01:12 · Elizabeth Aubrey]

All the key developments so far

In case you missed any of the earlier news, Britney’s father Jamie has today (13 August) agreed to step down from the conservatorship role he’s held for over 13 years.

Jamie filed a response to Britney’s petition for his removal in the Los Angeles Superior Court earlier in the day, announcing that he will step aside. However, he said there are “no actual grounds for suspending or removing” him. He instead cited that the “public battle with his daughter” as his main reason for stepping down.

“There are, in fact, no actual grounds for suspending or removing Mr. Spears as the Conservator of the Estate under Probate Code section 2650. And it is highly debatable whether a change in conservator at this time would be in Ms. Spears’ best interests,” the court documents stated.

The filing continued: “Nevertheless, even as Mr. Spears is the unremitting target of unjustified attacks, he does not believe that a public battle with his daughter over his continuing service as her conservator would be in her best interests,” the filing continues. “So even though he must contest this unjustified Petition for his removal, Mr. Spears intends to work with the Court and his daughter’s new attorney to prepare for an orderly transition to a new conservator.”

Crucially, Spears’ father has given no timescale for a transition to take place.

The legal document added: “There are no urgent circumstances justifying Mr. Spears’ immediate suspension,” hinting that it won’t happen overnight. “An orderly transition based on cooperation would most certainly be in the best interests of Ms. Spears”, it continued. “Regardless of his formal title, Mr. Spears will always be Ms. Spears’ father, he will always love her unconditionally, and he will always look out for her best interests.”

Spears’ lawyers meanwhile have nevertheless declared the news “a major victory”.

Britney Spears at the 29th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on 12 April 2018 in Beverly Hills, California (VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)

The pop star’s new attorney, Mathew Rosengart, issued a statement saying: “This is a major victory for Britney Spears and another step toward justice”.

“I announced in Court on July 14 that, after 13 years of the status quo, it was time for Mr. Spears to be suspended or removed as conservator and that my firm and I would move aggressively and expeditiously for that outcome,” Rosengart added. “Twelve days later, my firm filed a Petition for Mr. Spears’s suspension and removal based on strong, insurmountable legal grounds, which were unequivocally supported by the law and all parties involved, including Jodi Montgomery, Britney Spears, and her medical team.”

“We are pleased that Mr. Spears and his lawyer have today conceded in a filing that he must be removed. We are disappointed, however, by their ongoing shameful and reprehensible attacks on Ms. Spears and others,” Rosengart’s statement says.

“We look forward to continuing our vigorous investigation into the conduct of Mr. Spears, and others, over the past 13 years, while he reaped millions of dollars from his daughter’s estate, and I look forward to taking Mr. Spears’s sworn deposition in the near future,” Rosengart’s adds.

His statement concludes: “In the interim, rather than making false accusations and taking cheap shots at his own daughter, Mr. Spears should remain silent and step aside immediately.”

Fans and friends of Spears have reacting to the news. “I’m so happy to hear this news,” long-term friend Paris Hilton wrote. “It’s been so long overdue but I’m so glad that Britney is on her way to finally being free. Sending so much love!” You can see some more of the fan reaction to the news here.