The lawyer for Britney Spears ex-husband Kevin Federline indicated his support for her conservatorship, pointing to the pop icon’s rise from financial troubles as proof it has had positive impacts on her life.
Vincent Kaplan, Federline’s family attorney, said that Britney was offered ‘different layers of protections’ as a conservatee, following news Thursday that a California judge denied Jamie Spears’ objections to establishing wealth management company Bessemer Trust Co as a co-conservator of Britney’s estate.
‘I think there are many different layers of protection for Britney Spears as a conservatee, and I don’t think anyone should be worried that in some way it’s being abused for persons who have control with a conflict of interest…,’ Kaplan told Fox Television Stations. ‘I don’t think that’s a valid — it’s a concern, but I don’t think it’s one that’s founded in actuality.’
Vincent Kaplan, Federline’s family attorney, said that Britney was offered ‘different layers of protections’ as a conservatee. Spears and Federline pictured in 2006
‘I think there are many different layers of protection for Britney Spears as a conservatee, and I don’t think anyone should be worried that in some way it’s being abused for persons who have control with a conflict of interest…,’ Kaplan said. ‘I don’t think that’s a valid — it’s a concern, but I don’t think it’s one that’s founded in actuality’
Jamie has controlled 39-year-old Spears’ finances since 2008, when the pop singer suffered a series of public breakdowns including shaving her head and attacking photographers with an umbrella.
‘Prior to the conservatorship being placed over Ms. Spears, her finances were in a terrible state of disarray, there were multiple lawsuits around for breaches of contract and things like that, and now based on what I’ve seen in the press, her estate is north of $50, $60 million, so from that standpoint it seems to me the conservatorship has benefited her financially in that regard,’ Kaplan asserted. ‘The tradeoff as far as how it impacts her personal freedom or creativity, I can’t speak on that.’
He added: ‘I know there’s been turmoil seemingly with Britney and her father, and his role has changed somewhat, but that’s an internal matter between them.
Kaplan said Federline ‘expresses no opinion’ pertaining to Britney’s legal situation, adding that the former background dancer ‘has no desire to get involved on that side.’
Of her relationship with Jamie, Kaplan said: ‘I know there’s been turmoil seemingly with Britney and her father, and his role has changed somewhat, but that’s an internal matter between them’
Alandria Brown, a supporter of singer Britney Spears, gathers with other supporters outside a courthouse as a judge hears the singer’s temporary conservatorship case on Thursday
‘The only thing he’s considered about is whether the existence of the conservatorship enhances the ability for the boys to be in a safe and structured environment when they’re with their mom, and we have no reason to believe that that isn’t a beneficial factor in that decision,’ Kaplan added.
The couple share sons Sean Preston, 15, and Jayden James, 14, but Federline has primary custody of the pair. While the boys spend 70 percent of their time with their father, that number has been ‘voluntarily’ modified to allow Federline more time with them.
Kaplan said that the boys are ‘doing really well, and Kevin is enjoying watching them grow into young men.’
Kevin would ‘probably turn a more cautious eye’ in the event that the conservatorship is terminated to ‘make sure everything is stable and structured over there when the boys go see their mom,’ Kaplan added.
Britney Spears’ father lost his battle to keep sole control of her investments in the latest round of their court battle Thursday.
A California judge denied Jamie Spears’ objections to establishing wealth management company Bessemer Trust Co as a co-conservator over her estate.
The singer’s long-running fight to wrest control of her estate away from her father was pulled back into the limelight last week with the release of documentary ‘Framing Britney Spears’.
The New York Times documentary shined a light on her past mental health issues, as well as her struggle to regain autonomy in her career.
Its has spurred sympathy for Spears and brought greater attention to the case and the #FreeBritney movement of fans who want to see her released and given control of her life.
Those fans increasingly include celebrities. Bette Midler and other notables tweeted the #FreeBritney hashtag after the documentary aired. Miley Cyrus shouted ‘We love Britney!’ during her pre-Super Bowl performance Sunday.
Now 39 and the mother of two sons, Britney has not performed, recorded music or made media appearances since declaring a career hiatus early in 2019.
Britney Spears’ conservatorship battle continued on Thursday with a judge denying her father Jamie Spears’ objections to establishing Bessemer Trust Co as a co-conservator over her estate. Pictured: Britney and her father Jamie
Outside the court dozens of Britney’s fans gathered holding signs demanding that the conservatorship be removed
On her Twitter and Instagram accounts Tuesday, she shared a video of a performance from three years earlier with the caption, ‘I´ll always love being on stage …. But I am taking the time to learn and be a normal person ….. I love simply enjoying the basics of everyday life !!!!’
The pop star filed a petition last fall to replace her father as the sole conservator. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny denied the petition, instead ruling that Jamie should split the role with an independent financial institution.
At issue in Thursday’s hearing were objections that Jamie raised over the proposed order Britney’s attorney, Samuel Ingham, drew up effectuating the co-conservatorship with Bessemer.
Jamie’s lawyer, Vivian Thoreen, argued that the order improperly reduced his powers over his daughter’s estate, according to Variety.
Ingham responded by telling the court that the purpose of the order was to give both Jamie and Bessemer ‘an equal division of responsibility, in the hopes that they would sit down and figure out together the best way to handle this complex estate for the benefit of my client’.
Judge Penny ultimately denied Thoreen’s objections, ruling that the order should not be amended.
Ingham has separately indicated that he may revisit his request to remove Jamie as conservator entirely, but did not seek to do so on Thursday.
‘It’s no secret that my client does not want her father as co-conservator, but we recognize that removal is a separate issue,’ the attorney said.
Bessemer and Jamie are expected to meet to come up with a budget and investment plan for Britney’s estate ahead of another hearing scheduled for March 17.
Outside the court dozens of fans gathered holding #FreeBritney signs demanding that the conservatorship be removed.
Jamie was appointed as his daughter’s conservator in 2008 following her very public breakdown. However, last year, he stepped aside from the role due to ongoing health issues.
Jamie was appointed as his daughter’s conservator in 2008 following her very public breakdown
Two #FreeBritney supporters hold a sign with the words: ‘Where is Britney’s money?!
The singer’s long-running fight to wrest control of her estate away from her father was pulled back into the limelight last week with the release of ‘Framing Britney Spears’
The singer’s long-running fight to wrest control of her estate away from her father was pulled back into the limelight last week with the release of ‘Framing Britney Spears’.
The New York Times documentary shined a light on her past mental health issues, as well as her struggle to regain autonomy in her career.
While the the Toxic songstress hasn’t addressed the documentary directly, she used Twitter to seemingly suggest that there is much more to her story than what ‘Framing Britney Spears’ provided.
‘Remember, no matter what we think we know about a person’s life it is nothing compared to the actual person living behind the lens,’ she tweeted.
Britney has not performed live since October 2018 when she wrapped up the final legs of her Piece of Me Tour, after concluding her Las Vegas residency on December 31, 2017
A principal motivation for the changes Britney is seeking in her legal status appeared to be her desire to no longer continue performing.
In November, Britney’s attorney told a court that she is scared of her father and is refusing to perform again until he is removed as her conservator.
‘My client has informed me that she is afraid of her father,’ Ingham told a judge during a hearing to determine whether another conservator should be appointed. ‘She also stated that she will not perform as long as her father is in charge of her career.’
The Circus singer has not performed live since October 2018 when she wrapped up the final legs of her Piece of Me Tour, after concluding her Las Vegas residency on December 31, 2017.
In another tweet this week, Spears appeared to address those reports, insisting in a that while she loves being on stage, she is ‘taking the time to learn and be normal’ and to ‘enjoy the basics of everyday life’.
Cryptic: While the the Toxic songstress hasn’t addressed the documentary directly, she used Twitter to seemingly suggest that there is much more to her story than what Framing Britney Spears provided