Britney Spears: dad Jamie files request for daughter’s estate to pay his legal fees in conservatorship saga

Britney Spears’ father has reportedly filed a request for her estate to continue paying his legal fees, which are thought to amount to $2 million (£1.5m).

Court documents seen by Entertainment Tonight reportedly show that Jamie Spears has racked up a $2 million bill with attorneys and other lawyers that have been hired by his legal team.

According to Entertainment Tonight, there is also a request that Jamie receives $288,000 (£209,000) including $16,000 (£11.7,000) per month for his role as a co-conservator of Britney’s estate.

An additional request has been filed for $2,000 (£1,450) to cover renting an office space from November 2019 until February 2021.

The pop star’s life has been controlled by a court-ordered conservatorship since 2008 after her public breakdown.

What’s going on?

Her father, Jamie Spears, had been in control of both the singer’s financial and personal affairs before stepping down from the latter role in September 2019 due to health reasons.

Jodi Montgomery, a care professional, replaced him on what has been a temporary basis.

Last week, Spears’ lawyer officially asked a judge to permanently remove her father from his role overseeing her personal affairs, and to make the temporary conservator permanent.

At the most recent hearing into 39-year-old Spears’ conservatorship, her lawyer Samuel D Ingham III told a judge in Los Angeles he would file a petition to make the appointment permanent.

As well as requesting Montgomery be made permanent, Spears has asked her father to resign from his role overseeing her personal life.

The legal documents also state Spears reserves the right to eventually request an end to the conservatorship, a role which comes with the power to “restrict and limit” visitors to Spears, the ability to retain “caretakers and security guards” for the singer, and powers to prosecute civil harassment restraining orders on the star’s behalf.

Jamie Spears remains co-conservator of his daughter’s finances, and oversees her estimated $60 million (£43.8 million) estate alongside a private wealth management firm, despite her previous pleas for him to be removed from the role.

‘No ‘viable working relationship’

Spears’ lawyer previously told the court she was scared of her father and would not be returning to the stage while he remained in control of her life; Spears has not performed live since October 2018, and cancelled a much-anticipated Las Vegas residency in early 2019.

During a hearing in November 2020, Ingham told the court the singer has a fraught relationship with her father, and that the pair have no “viable working relationship”.

They have not spoken in a “long while,” he added.

That hearing took place against the backdrop of the #FreeBritney movement, an organisation of fans who believe Spears is being kept prisoner against her will.

Some in the movement say Spears sends coded messages through her social media accounts. Fans holding “Free Britney” signs marched outside the court building.

Spears acknowledged the #FreeBritney movement in recent court papers, saying she “welcomes and appreciates the informed support of her many fans.”

The next hearing in the pop star’s controversial conservatorship case will take place in Los Angeles on 27 April.

Additional reporting by Press Association