There has been a lot of press lately regarding Britney Spears’ recent conservatorship hearings. Here is a brief explanation of Ms. Spears’ case.
What is a conservatorship?
In California, there are two types of conservatorships. A conservatorship of the person allows the conservator to make health care-related decisions on behalf of the conservatee. A conservatorship of the estate allows the conservator to make financial, property and personal decisions on behalf of the conservatee.
What is Ms. Spears trying to accomplish?
Ms. Spears’ father, Jamie Spears, has been conservator for Ms. Spears since 2008. Ms. Spears attorney stated that Ms. Spears is “afraid of her father,” her conservator. Ms. Spears is trying to remove her father as conservator of both her and her assets.
Opinion: What is the likely outcome?
I appear in court often in front of Ms. Spears’ judge and can say that the judge is very reasonable and compassionate. If there is objective proof, such as a psychological report, that Ms. Spears is capable of handling her affairs, then the judge will likely end the conservatorship. The outcome will be based on objective facts, not solely on Ms. Spears’ subjective opinion of the conservatorship. For those who are emotionally invested in Ms. Spears’ case, I’d find comfort in the fact the there is a reasonable judge preceding over the case who will make a decision based on objective facts regarding whether to “Free Britney” of the conservatorship.
A conservatorship is a court proceeding in which a judge appoints a conservator, a protector or guardian, over the affairs of the conservatee, the person who has the conservator making decisions for that person’s life, finances, medical decisions, and more. Outside of California, a “guardianship” is the term that is often used instead of “conservatorship.”
