Is Britney Spears free from her conservatorship now? What happens next?

Britney Spears has come a long way in her campaign to end her conservatorship and finally, after 13 years, the star has been able to celebrate her freedom with a glass of champagne. 

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of years, you’ve probably heard a thing or two about Britney Spears’ conservatorship—and the endless controversies surrounding it. 

But finally, after a long battle, Briney is free! The star took to social media to celebrate her freedom and announced that she had had her first sip of champagne in a long time.

"What an amazing weekend … I felt like I was on cloud 9 the whole time ☁️ !!! I actually got my first glass of champagne 🥂 at the most beautiful restaurant I’ve ever seen last night !!!!" said the star.

"I’m celebrating my freedom and my B-day for the next two months !!!!!!!!!!! I mean after 13 years … I think I’ve waited long ENOUGH !!!! I’m so happy my lawyer Mathew Rosengart came into my life when he did … he has truly turned my life around … I’m forever thankful for that !!!! What a sight seeing so many people celebrating my victory …. I love my fans so much … so thank you 🌹 !!!!⁣" said Britney.

Britney also posted videos on her social media of her fans celebrating her freedom as she said, "Good God I love my fans so much it’s crazy."

The 13-year-old conservatorship and dispute between father and daughter about Britney's freedom have been widely covered by both the media and the public—prompting several investigative documentaries and even a worldwide social movement to ‘Free Britney’.

Britney’s father agreed to step down as conservator in August, which was a colossal win for the superstar’s pursuit of freedom. This meant that her father would no longer be able to profit from his daughter's conservatorship and make decisions about her financial assets and earnings.

After this announcement, Britney posed nude for a birthday suit photoshoot, which was a promising sign that she was getting closer to full independence.

What is Britney Spears’ conservatorship all about?

Britney was placed under a conservatorship by a Los Angeles judge in February 2008, one day after she was admitted to a psychiatric unit for a rumored mental breakdown. Deemed incapable of managing her own affairs, the court appointed her father, Jamie Spears, as the co-conservator of her finances, her estate, and her person. 

For the next decade, Jamie held an immense amount of power in Britney’s life, allegedly dictating everything from the medication she took to the food she ate. He was removed as the conservator of her person in 2019 but retained his control of her money. 

With his superstar daughter back on the stage less than a year after her breakdown (Britney released five bestselling albums and three world tours between 2007 and 2018) the 69-year-old raked in hefty earnings off the back of her hard work. According to Forbes, Jamie has pocketed at least $5 million in total from the conservatorship. 

Britney’s lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, has also alleged that her father has been “paying himself” a whopping $16,000 monthly salary from her $60 million estate. Court documents obtained by Netflix’s Britney vs Spears reveal that, at the same time, Jamie was paying Britney £8,000 a month. 

Britney accused Jamie of guardianship abuse during her powerful plea to end the conservatorship in June 2021, telling a Los Angeles court that her father loved the control he had over her, “100,000 percent.” 

Fans were further shocked to hear allegations of Britney's forced IUD, which the singer claims is to stop her from having more children against her wishes. After mounting public pressure, Jamie agreed to step down from the role in August 2021.

"There are, in fact, no actual grounds for suspending or removing Mr. Spears as the conservator of the estate. And it is highly debatable whether a change in conservator at this time would be in Ms. Spears' best interests,” his lawyer said. 

"Nevertheless, even as Mr. Spears is the unremitting target of unjustified attacks, he does not believe that a public battle with his daughter over his continuing service as her conservator would be in her best interests." 

Is Britney Spears free now? 

On Friday, November 12, 2021, Britney Spears' conservatorship officially ended. The star appeared in court and a judge granted the termination of her conservatorship. Although her accountant who was serving as her temporary conservator may still have some powers, the ruling on the legal conservatorship is, "effective today... thereby terminated".

Although her conservatorship is over, Britney may still face some other legal issues. In July of 2021, the star said that she planned to "press charges" against her father Jamie Spears because of his treatment of her during her conservatorship. 

"I have to get rid of my Dad and charge him with conservatorship abuse," she said at the time. Although, it is unclear if Britney will now pursue this now that she is free.

On a brighter note, Britney will be able to make her own decisions when it comes to her medical health, financial decisions, and career prospects. She can also now marry her fiancee Sam and start a new chapter of her life.