Britney Spears to address US court over controversial conservatorship case

Britney Spears has confirmed that she will address a US court over her controversial conservatorship case, in which her father currently controls most of her affairs.

Spears has been subject to a conservatorship since 2008, following mental health difficulties which were consistently exploited by paparazzi cameras. Jamie Spears retains joint control of her estate alongside wealth management company Bessemer Trust, despite Spears requesting for him to be removed from his role.

The pop icon’s lawyer, Samuel D Ingham, has stated that Spears intends to directly address the court in person or virtually.

The 39-year-old has previously made her feelings about the court-ordered conservatorship known through Mr Ingham. Last year, her lawyer said that Britney was scared of her father and would not perform again while he controlled her life.

Mr Ingham told the court his client’s current wishes during a hearing yesterday, which came after the 'Oops, I Did It Again' singer’s parents had disagreed in legal papers.

The court also heard brief updates on other matters related to the case, and the judge set a separate date of July 14th for those to be heard.

Lynne Spears, the singer’s mother, objected to fees claimed by Jamie’s legal team totalling around €736,000 over a period of four months. Her lawyers called for the claims to be closely reexamined and any unnecessary costs reimbursed to the performer's estate.

They said the costs were “procedurally improper” and claimed for lawyers not approved by the court, as well as arguing “the hours logged are utterly excessive”.

Lynne argued Holland & Knight LLP spent money on a “national media tour” to promote her ex-husband's legal representative Vivian Thoreen and “combat media coverage that cast Jamie in a negative light”.

Jamie maintained that their fees were justified, and alleging Lynne “is not acting in the best interests” of their daughter.

"She has not been involved in her daughter’s conservatorship until very recently, and she is now raising objections to fees related to matters that she has no knowledge of," his legal team said.

“In doing so, she is causing undue delay and expense in the administration of the Conservatorship, and ironically, stirring up more unnecessary media attention. While the Conservator and his counsel have been very cautious, limited, and thoughtful in dealing with the media, Lynne Spears is the one who exploited her daughter’s pain and trauma for personal profit by publishing a book about the Conservatee.”

65-year-old Lynne the 2008 memoir, Through The Storm: A Real Story Of Fame And Family In A Tabloid World, following her daughter’s highly publicised mental health traumas.

Jodi Montgomery replaced Jamie on what has been a temporary basis in overseeing his daughter's personal affairs after he stepped down from the role in 2019 due to health reasons.

Spears’ life and career came under renewed scrutiny in February after New York Times documentary Framing Britney Spears was aired.

The project explored her meteoric rise and subsequent struggles under the tabloid glare.