Although the movement to free Britney Spears from her 13-year conservatorship gained ground over the course of several years, it was only in 2021 that we learned how restrictive it truly was and that we got to see it end .
In the time since, the public has become more aware than ever of what conservatorships are and how even famous people can find themselves bound by them.
And it’s within this new climate that former child star Amanda Bynes has recently made news by seeking to end her own conservatorship after her family have been managing her life for the past nine years.
But while that arrangement hasn’t officially been brought to an end by the time of this writing, a recent court ruling suggests that a period of newfound freedom is imminent for Bynes.
After a series of brushes with the law, Bynes was placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold in 2013.
According to Rolling Stone , this move was in response to an alleged fire Bynes set in the driveway of one of her parents’ neighbors.
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People reported that this intervention gave way to a temporary conservatorship that managed the star’s life that year and Bynes’ mother Lynn would be named her full conservator in 2014.
But while the actress walked a well-publicized rocky road in the time that followed that decision, recent years have seen her making some significant changes in her life.
According to People , she had earned an associate’s degree in 2019 and is now studying at the California’s Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising with an interest in releasing her own clothing line and fragrances one day.
That year also saw her meet fiancé Paul Michael at her former sober living home and she announced her engagement on Valentine’s Day of 2020.
She remains living at a “structured community for women,” but last year saw her transferred to an independent apartment and she’s hoping to move in with Michael soon.
After a promising status report on her overall health in September, Bynes filed to end her conservatorship in February of 2022.
Judge Roger L. Lund was expected to officially order the termination of the conservatorship on March 22 following a tentative ruling on March 21.
Indeed, this decision was promising for Bynes as it stated, “The court determines that the conservatorship is no longer required and that grounds for establishment of a conservatorship of the person no longer exist.”
Sure enough, NBC News reported that the following day, Lund made a second ruling that officially dissolved her conservatorship.
Although this reversal will see Bynes regain control of how she lives her life, that doesn’t mean she’s reached the end of her legal road.
As Rolling Stone reported, that’s because her money was transferred outside of the conservatorship in 2017 and now resides in a lifetime trust managed by her father. If that trust can’t be dissolved or altered outside of court, Bynes will have to file a separate petition for her money.
Nonetheless, her family’s attorney Tamar Arminak has said they’ve agreed that it was time for the conservatorship to end.
In his words, “In all honestly, her mom is so happy and excited. Amanda’s whole family is happy to restart a relationship with Amanda that has nothing to do with this conservatorship.”
h/t: People , Rolling Stone
