What is a conservatorship?

The Free Britney movement celebrating the ending of her conservatorship in LA (Picture: Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images)

Britney Spears is officially free after an LA court ruled that her conservatorship has been terminated after 13 years.

During the court hearing in Los Angeles Superior on November 12, Judge Brenda Penny made the historic ruling which delighted fans who have actively been campaigning for the singer’s freedom through the #FreeBritney movement.

The Toxic singer had been under the conservatorship since 2008. The singer’s father Jamie had managed her wellbeing and financial affairs along with a bank, but demands to change that peaked after the mother-of-two recently told a court that the conservatorship was ‘abusive’. 

It brings to an end a long campaign for Spears, who shared her celebrations with fiance Sam Asghari following the ruling.

But just what is a conservatorship? Here’s what you need to know…

What does conservatorship mean?

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 routine.

One is usually appointed a conservator if they are suffering from physical or mental issues or declining with age.

Britney has not been in control of her financial or health decisions since 2008 (Picture: Getty)

With regards to Britney, her financial and medical affairs are handled by her father and a legal representative.

Ahead of the court case, the extent of Britney’s conservatorship has been revealed in a new report which has alleged she could not even make new friends without the approval of her father.

Details of confidential court records received by the New York Times state that the conservatorship has placed rules on everything from who Britney could date to ‘the colour of her kitchen cabinets’ – the report also adds that the records stated Britney was unable to make friends without Jamie’s prior approval.

A court investigator reportedly wrote in a 2016 report: ‘She articulated she feels the conservatorship has become an oppressive and controlling tool against her’, and quoted Britney as saying the system had ‘too much control’.

The investigator also claimed that Britney was ‘sick of being taken advantage of’.

How long does a conservatorship last?

Jamie has controlled Britney’s conservatorship since 2008 (Picture: REX)

A conservatorship will last as long as it is needed.

It will end when the conservatee is considered no longer in need of a conservator, for example, if a person is unable to care for themselves because of a medical condition, the conservatorship will end when he is treated or recovers sufficiently to care for himself again.

In this example, this will be a planned conservatorship – which is akin to power of attorney.

However, in an unplanned conservatorship – such as responding to a sudden change of circumstance as was the case with Britney – the length of the conservatorship is up for debate.

As an unplanned conservatorship is court-ordered, the court will assign not only a conservator but also a caseworker for the person.

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.

More: Britney Spears

Why did Britney still have a conservator?

No one is happier for Britney than her fans (Picture: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

This question was a big catalyst for the #FreeBritney movement – which started out as hardcore fans and bloggers and has since gone on to include celebrities and powerful figures.

Sarah Jessica Parker, Andy Cohen, Hayley Williams from Paramore, Olly Alexander, Miley Cyrus, Kacey Musgraves and Bette Midler all tweeted support for Britney, using the hashtag #FreeBritney.

Britney Spears’ father was charged as her conservator following her breakdown in 2007. Since then, Spears has gone on to release four successful studio albums, perform multiple worldwide tours and performed nightly at a high-intensity Las Vegas residency.

The argument being made by fans was that if she is fit enough to put on a spectacle involving acrobatics, pyrotechnics and more nightly, she should be able to make her own life decisions.

Spears herself had historically been quite tight-lipped about the arrangement, but her damning testimony back in June left the world speechless as the Lucky singer passionately urged a judge to have her conservatorship removed completely.

Reacting to the news that the conservatorship was officially over shortly after the decision, the Toxic hitmaker shared a video of fans outside the courthouse cheering and setting off confetti cannons.

She wrote: ‘Good God I love my fans so much it’s crazy!!! I think I’m gonna cry the rest of the day !!!! Best day ever … praise the Lord … can I get an Amen???? #FreedBritney.’

MORE : Paris Hilton, Cher and Jedward among stars celebrating as Britney Spears’ conservatorship ends

MORE : Britney Spears’ fiancé Sam Asghari celebrates as she’s finally free from conservatorship: ‘History was made today’

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