The super-confusing Britney Spears conservatorship battle – explained

Britney Spears recently got candid about the array of new documentaries focusing on her mental health, and legal battle over her father’s conservatorship of her, calling them “hypocritical.” On Monday, Spears posted a lengthy Instagram post, criticizing the media for taking advantage of the “most negative and traumatizing times” throughout her career.

“They criticize the media and then do the same thing,” Spears wrote. “I’ve had waaaayyyy more amazing times in my life and unfortunately my friends … I think the world is more interested in the negative.”

Spears has been under a conservatorship controlled by her father, Jamie Spears, since 2008. This grants him the legal right to make decisions regarding her personal finances. The New York Times documentary, Framing Britney Spears, sheds light on Britney’s conservatorship battle, as well as giving insight into the #FreeBritney movement.

The documentary, which premiered in February on Hulu, also outlines the media’s misogynistic treatment of Spears over the years, as well as her mental health struggles.

But for those who don’t follow the news surrounding Spears, it can feel overwhelming to digest all the details. For example, what is a conservatorship and how does it affect Britney? Here’s a complete timeline of everything occurring with Britney’s conservatorship battle.

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February 2008: Britney is placed under an involuntary psychiatric hold, which results in a temporary conservatorship controlled by her father, Jamie and a lawyer named Andrew Wallet. A conservatorship is a legal concept which allows a judge to grant a guardian total control over a person’s finances if that person is physically or mentally unable to manage them on their own.

October 2008: The conservatorship becomes permanent, despite Spears being fully back to work. Britney reportedly had to ask her father for permission on “major decision she makes, from business, to health, to voting and marriage,” reported Newsweek. Even the tiniest of purchases was being tracked, according to The New York Times.

April 2019: Britney checks into a mental health facility and remains there for a month.

May 2019: Britney’s mom, Lynne, files a request to be involved in the conservatorship and informed of her daughter’s medical conditions.

June 2019: Cracks in Britney’s conservatorship begin to show, as Wallet resigns from his role, saying, “Substantial detriment, irreparable harm and immediate danger will result to the conservatee and her estate if the relief requested herein [is] not granted on an ex parte basis.”

Jamie Spears eventually gains full control of Britney’s estate.

September 2019: Jodi Montgomery, Britney’s care manager, obtains control over Britney’s conservatorship, after Jamie Spears is temporarily removed due to an alleged altercation with Britney’s 13-year-old son.

July 2020: Britney’s brother Bryan comments about Britney’s conservatorship on the podcast, As NOT Seen on TV. “She’s always wanted to get out of it,” he said. “It’s very frustrating to have. Whether someone’s coming in peace to help or coming in with an attitude, having someone constantly tell you to do something has got to be frustrating.”

August 2020: Jamie Spears regains full control of Britney’s conservatorship.

September 2020: Britney’s lawyers file an objection to seal parts of the conservatorship from the public. Jamie and the conservatorship’s attorneys have worked to keep courtrooms private and filings sealed in the ongoing case. However, Britney objected to the sealing of her father’s motion to reinstall attorney Andrew Wallet as a co-conservator.

November 2020: Britney’s plea to remove her father from her conservatorship is declined until further notice. According to USA Today, Britney’s father argued she’s not ready to take back control of her life and finances. As a result, Britney has refused to perform as long as her father stays on as her conservator.

December 2020: Britney’s conservatorship is extended until September 2021.