Fans rejoice as US court ends Britney Spears 13-yr conservatorship; see pics

Nearly 14 years after a US court deemed pop sensation Britney Spears unable to care for herself, stripping the singer of control in nearly every aspect of her life, a judge ruled to end the conservatorship that Spears said had long traumatised and exploited her. The ruling, greeted with raucous cheers and showers of pink confetti by Spears' fans outside the downtown courthouse, ends a conservatorship long overseen by her father, and which the "Toxic" singer has described as abusive.

A US Court terminated the controversial guardianship that has controlled pop star Britney Spears' life for the past 13 years, handing back her freedom along with control of a multi-million-dollar estate. Credit: AFP Photo

The ruling, greeted with raucous cheers and showers of pink confetti by Spears' fans outside the downtown courthouse, ends a conservatorship long overseen by her father, and which the

The formal end to the guardianship comes after the pop princess's father Jamie Spears was removed from his position in charge of her finances and estate at a hearing in September. Credit: AFP Photo

Fans outside the courthouse who had been campaigning for the conservatorship to end for years could hardly contain their joy and relief. Credit: AFP Photo

Spears' lawyer Mathew Rosengart had his name chanted as he addressed the crowd of supporters, among whom he has attained celebrity status. Credit: AFP Photo

Supporters of the 'FreeBritney movement' celebrate following a court decision ending her conservatorship outside the Stanley Mosk courthouse in Los Angeles, California. Credit: AFP Photo

James Spears, Britney's ’ father, who is known as Jamie, first petitioned the court for authority over his adult daughter’s life and finances in early 2008, citing her public mental health struggles and possible substance abuse amid a child custody battle. What began as a temporary conservatorship was made permanent by the end of the year. Credit: AFP Photo

Spears, in her first extended public comments on the conservatorship at a court hearing this summer, argued that its authority went too far, saying that those in charge forced her to take medication, work against her will and use a birth control device. Credit: AFP Photo

The singer was not present in court. But before the hearing, she was seen in a video posted to Instagram by her fiancé, Sam Asghari, wearing a T-shirt that read #FREEBRITNEY above the phrase “It’s a human rights movement.