Sometimes the famous have issues that our clients also face.  Frequently we receive telephone calls from throughout Southern California (including, but not limited to, Culver City, Inglewood, Brentwood, Marina del Rey) from adult children indicating that their mother or father is no longer able to manage their financial affairs. 

In Ms. Britney Spears’ case, it was the opposite from the normal situation.  Ms. Spears’ father and an attorney have been named co-conservators over her.  On February 1, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge granted a temporary conservatorship over Ms. Spears which was set to expire on March 10.  In early March, the Court extended the conservatorship until July 31.

In finding that a conservatorship was warranted, the judge was bound by California Probate Code section 1800.3(b) which states:

            “No conservatorship of the person or of the estate shall be granted by the court unless the court makes an express finding that the granting of the conservatorship is the least restrictive alternative needed for the protection of the conservatee.”

Moreover, the California Probate Code also requires that the judge had to find that Ms. Spears was “substantially unable to manage . . . her own financial resources or resist fraud or undue influence.”

Hopefully, by July 31, Ms. Spears will be able to manage her own affairs and not require a conservatorship any longer.  In most cases, where the child becomes the conservator of his or her parent, it lasts for the remainder of the parent’s lifetime.