Major win for #FreeBritney campaign: Britney’s father to step down as conservator

Britney Spears’ father will step down as conservator over the pop superstar’s estate. Court documents filed Thursday detail the plan including when it will happen and under what circumstances.

According to the filing, “Mr. Spears is willing to step down when the time is right, but the transition needs to be orderly and include a resolution of matters pending before the Court.” Those matters include the next judicial review of the pop singer’s finances.

For most of the conservatorship, established in 2008, James Spears oversaw his daughter’s personal affairs and money. He stepped down from overseeing her person in 2019 but maintained control of her finances.

The judicial review of Britney’s finances has been delayed for months, in part due to hearings over the legitimacy of the conservatorship and Britney’s search for a new attorney. “We are pleased that Mr. Spears and his lawyer have today conceded in a filing that he must be removed,” Matthew Rosengart said in a statement. “It is vindication for Britney.”

James was fighting to remain in control according to court filings, as recently as, last week. He said the allegations in his daughter’s testimony in June and July are “untested,” need investigation, and involve issues that have long been out of his control. In June, Britney said she had been required to use an intrauterine birth control device, take medications against her will and prevented from getting married or even riding in her boyfriend’s car unsupervised.

The documents say James has been “the unremitting target of unjustified attacks,” and “he should not be suspended or removed, and certainly not based on false allegations”. James had suggested that Jodi Montgomery, who took over for him as conservator of Britney Spears’ personal affairs in 2019, deserved scrutiny if Britney’s allegations were accurate.

Even after James’ departure, the court will maintain the same control of conservatorship over Britney Spears. Despite this, Rosengart said James should not wait to step down. “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 statement said. “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.”