Entertainment
Britney Spears wants father Jamie charged with conservatorship abuse as she addresses court for second time
Britney Spears has called for her father to be removed as her conservator (Picture: Rex)
Britney Spears has told a court that she wants her father Jamie charged with conservatorship abuse.
The Toxic hitmaker addressed the court again about her conservatorship, alleging hair vitamins and coffee had been taken from her.
She told Judge Brenda Penny: ‘Mam, that’s not abuse, that’s just f*****g cruelty.’
The singer said she wanted the complex legal arrangement which oversees her life and career terminated without the need for a medical assessment.
She indicated her top priority was ousting her father Jamie from his role while allowing co-conservator Jodi Montgomery to remain.
She said: ‘My dad needs to be removed today and I will be happy with Jodi helping me.’
During the latest hearing about her conservatorship, which has been in place since 2008, it was also ruled that she will be able to hire her own lawyer.
When the conservatorship began, Britney was ruled as unfit to hire her own counsel.
Jamie remains in charge of his daughter’s finances (Picture: Getty Images)
A court-appointed attorney, Samuel D. Ingham III, has represented her since – but he recently resigned amid the case.
The Toxic hitmaker has been under a conservatorship, with her father controlling her financial and business decisions, since 2008.
She has been fighting to remove him as her conservator, with the star recently addressing a court for the first time.
Britney said she wants her life back (Picture: Getty Images)
The 39-year-old likened the conservatorship to ‘abuse’, saying: ‘They’ve done a good job at exploiting my life. So I feel like it should be an open court hearing and they should listen to what I have to say.
‘A lot has happened since two years ago, the last time I was in court. I don’t think I was heard on any level when I came to court last time.
‘After I’ve told the whole world I’m okay, it’s a lie. I’m not happy and I can’t sleep. I’m depressed. I cry everyday … It’s my wish and dream for all of this to end. I want my life back.’
Britney’s request to have her father removed as her conservator was recently denied.
What is a conservatorship?
A conservatorship is a legal concept in the United States that places someone under the legal protection of an appointed adult.
A guardian or a protector is appointed by a judge to manage different aspects of someone’s life, from their financial affairs to their daily life.
One is usually appointed a conservator if they are suffering from physical or mental issues or declining with age.
A planned conservatorship lasts as long as it is needed, and ends when a conservatee is considered no longer in need of a conservator, for example, if a person is unable to care for their self because of a medical condition, the conservatorship will end when he is treated or recovers sufficiently to care for himself again.
If a conservatorship is unplanned, a court will also assign a caseworker for the conservatee.
The caseworker will remain in contact with the conservator and make certain that the transition goes well, regularly checking on the status of all involved.
Judge Penny, who denied the request, did not rule out future petitions to suspend him from the conservatorship.
In a New Yorker investigation, it was also reported that, the night before the hearing, Britney reported herself as a victim of conservatorship abuse.
More: US Showbiz news
The site reports that a person close to Britney, and law enforcement in Ventura County, California (where she currently lives) confirmed the call.
Britney has been supported by stars including Paris Hilton and Miley Cyrus after speaking out against her conservatorship.
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