In 2008, Britney Spears’ father and an attorney took conservatorship over the star in the midst of a public breakdown and a slew of poor decisions. The takeover saved Britney’s career (and multi-million dollar empire). Now Amanda Bynes has gone down a similar road, getting into legal and financial trouble left and right. What with DUI charges, driving with a suspended license, drug-related issues, and now setting strangers’ driveways on fire and trashing hotel rooms, the child actress’ parents have sought conservatorship. This case, however, may prove to be a little more difficult than Britney’s.
What Is Conservatorship?
Generally, people under conservatorship can’t make their own decisions like marriage or scheduling doctor visits; parents or other conservators are given control of finances and personal affairs like choosing where to live. Such legal proceedings weren’t created as a legal means to protect valuable careers; conservatorships are normally saved for elderly individuals with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or people with severe developmental disabilities. They are necessary to help those who are unable to protect themselves.
Britney Spears is still under conservatorship, years after many public breakdowns. Britney’s father and an attorney remain in control of her financial assets and even non-financial decisions, while her ex-fiance recently resigned as a co-conservator over her non-financial decisions. While Britney appears to be in more stable condition these days, a condition like bi-polar disorder could justify ongoing conservatorship over the star’s life. Britney’s conservatorship has also protected her from having to testify in lawsuits filed against her.
Acquiring Conservatorship
After the fire incident, Bynes was detained at a mental health facility under a 5150 psychiatric hold, which was set for 72 hours. Then, at the request of her doctors, the hold was extended to a 30-day period by a judge. According to state law, this happens only if a patient is “gravely disabled as a result of a mental disorder” or “is a danger to others, or him or herself.” Lynn Bynes was granted temporary — and relatively limited — conservatorship over Amanda based on an apparent case of PTSD. In this case, Amanda Bynes’ personal and financial decisions pass though her lawyer and a judge, and most financial assets can’t be touched by her mother. Choices like medical care and where the star lives are, however, in control of Lynn Bynes.
Amanda Bynes’ parents are clearly concerned about their daughter being a danger to herself and/or to others. In Britney Spears’ case, a lot more was at stake: her kids, her booming career, and hundreds of millions of dollars.
