Britney Spears, 40, was officially given the rights to control her own finances during a court hearing in California on Wednesday, December 8, according to Variety. Judge Brenda J. Penny granted the “Toxic” songstress “the power to execute documents herself,” after her controversial conservatorship was officially terminated on November 12. Britney’s attorney Mathew Rosengart was present at the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse on Britney’s behalf and told reporters outside after the hearing that the pop star now “has the power to do whatever she wants to do.”
After Brit’s conservatorship ended, certified public accountant John Zabel remained conservator of her estate. Wednesday’s hearing decided that Zabel will continue his role until January 19, the date of the next hearing. There, accounting matters, as well as the petition for substituted judgement, will be dealt with in court, according to Variety.
Britney’s father, Jamie Spears, reportedly called into Wednesday’s hearing, while his attorney Alex Weingarten was there in person. Weingarten reportedly asked Judge Penny to grant Jamie, 69, the rights to Britney’s estate plan — but Zabel’s attorney quickly shot that down and said, “In a normal situation, a normal person would never have to show their estate plan” to their family or friends or anyone else, Variety reported. Jamie had previously been running Britney’s conservatorship from 2008 until his suspension in late September, prior to the total termination.
A source close to the singer told HollywoodLife EXCLUSIVELY, “Britney just knocked out the final hurdle in her fight for freedom by getting control of all of her finances. This was the last that was keeping her under the control of her conservator’s and she is beyond ecstatic to have this horrific chapter of her life finally 100 percent behind her. She was always so bothered by her financial set up and how her money was never her money – until now. Her friends and those who know her well are truly overjoyed with the way everything has turned out for her. Britney deserves to spend her money the way she wants to spend it. She worked hard for it and never again will she deal with someone else telling her how to liver her life or spend her paychecks. One thing is for sure – now that Britney has complete control over her millions, it is going to be a good Christmas for her, Sam and the boys!”
A second source told us, “This is all so new for Britney and it’s definitely going to take her some time to get acclimated with all the changes. It’s truly like a rebirth and she has so much to learn. But it’s all positive for Britney and she’s ecstatic about having the opportunity to explore things that most adults her age take for granted. She has finally overcome the biggest hurdles and she is feeling so happy and optimistic about her future.”
Britney spoke out against the conservatorship (as well as her father) many times before it was dissolved. In a court hearing in July, Britney said she wanted to charge Jamie with conservatorship abuse, slamming the rest of her family. “I want to press charges on my dad today,” she said. “My lawyer didn’t fight for me one time. No, I am not perfect. I am not crazy. My family never cared.” In the weeks since the conservatorship has ended, Britney has been in relatively good spirits while looking towards the future with her fiancé, Sam Asghari.