World-famous pop singer, Britney Spears, has asked to speak directly about her guardianship in court, her lawyer said.
The star’s father, Jamie Spears, has been in control of her personal and business affairs since the court ordered a guardianship in 2008. The order came after the singer was hospitalized amid concerns about her mental health.
However, Spears’ lawyers have previously indicated that the 39-year-old singer no longer wants her father to oversee her personal affairs.
“My client has requested a hearing at which she can address the court directly,” Britney’s lawyer Samuel Ingham told the court on Tuesday, adding that she had “asked that it be done on an expedited basis.”
The judge set a hearing date for June 23, but it is unclear if the pop star will appear in person or what her comments will be if she does so.
Jamie Spears was named as her daughter’s temporary conservator after she was admitted to the hospital more than ten years ago. The singer underwent a psychiatric evaluation following several public incidents that prompted rumors about her well-being.
Although the exact details of the order have not been made public, it is known that a court grants conservatorship to people who cannot make their own decisions.
It applies to those with dementia and other mental illnesses. Britney Spears’s conservatorship is divided into two parts: one is for her as a person, and the other is for her estate and financial affairs.
Mr. Spears used to control both, but he resigned as his daughter’s personal guardian two years ago, citing health reasons.
Jodi Montgomery, a care professional, temporarily replaced him as her personal conservator, but Britney asked for the decision to be permanent. Later, Spears’ lawyer told the court that the star was scared of her father and that she would not return to the stage as long as he was in control of her life.
The documentary Framing Britney Spears, released earlier this year, sparked new scrutiny over Spears’s conservatorship agreement.
Fans created the #FreeBritney movement, backing the singer’s legal fight to regain her autonomy. In February, a judge denied a request by Jamie Spears for greater control over her daughter’s financial affairs.
