New York Times: “After more than 13 years, a Los Angeles judge has set Britney Spears free. At a hearing on Friday afternoon in Los Angeles Superior Court, Judge Brenda Penny said the conservatorship that has long overseen the singer’s life and finances should be terminated effective today.
“In June, Ms. Spears, 39, told the court that the arrangement, which stripped her of control in nearly every aspect of her life, had traumatized and exploited her. She asked for it to end without her having to undergo additional mental evaluations. On Friday, Judge Penny agreed. ‘The conservatorship of the person and estate of Britney Jean Spears is no longer required,’ she said. Judge Penny found that there was ‘no need for a capacity declaration’ of Ms. Spears, noting that it had been a voluntary conservatorship.
“The judge said Ms. Spears’s current estate conservator would continue working to settle ongoing financial concerns related to the case. John Zabel, the certified public accountant who took over the estate in September, would retain power to execute estate planning and transfer outside assets into an existing trust for Ms. Spears, she said.”