From what I read on the topic, it's not that what's going on now is actually going to be permanent for the rest of her life, forever and ever. It's more that everyone felt that the conservatorship didn't need to be built in several month increments and everyone was tired of coming back to court every few months just to renew it for another few months. I don't think it's a bad move- she was in dire straights until her father took over, and she's only getting stronger and more involved in her old life since he did.

Britney has shedloads of money, which is probably routed through trusts or corporations. It's probably a good idea in the long term for someone else to be dealing with her investments and spending rather than leaving it to her to make any decisions, or attend meetings with accountants or tax consultants. Those sorts of things can be overwhelming and if she's struggling with mental health, it's extra pressure she probably doesn't need at the moment.

I'm not mentally ill, but if I had as much money as Britney, you bet I'd let someone who knew what they were doing handle my business affairs.

whatever her troubles might be at the moment, she's not shaving off her hair in a salon while mumbling incoherently for the world to see. if anything, she seems to be less fucked up, much less, since her parents showed up. as for the money, I doubt the parents will be able to rob her blind even if they tried, the way these matters are set up with lawyers and stuff.

It's a move the singer apparently approves - court-appointed attorney said the details had been explained to the 26-year-old and she agreed not to oppose it.

Spears could petition later to have the conservatorship removed

So inasmuch as it might seem like her moneys has been forcibly hijacked, it doesn't look to me like this was imposed upon her without her approval.

I'm not mentally ill, but if I had as much money as Britney, you bet I'd let someone who knew what they were doing handle my business affairs.

I was going to say exactly the same thing. The list of music celebrities who could have benefited from such a thing is long and heartbreaking. She just got a safety net strung up under her.

Also: does she have a mental illness? News to me. And it doesn't say anywhere in that article that it's a factor, does it?

Also, I read that by being under conservatorship, she no longer can be required to testify in certain circumstances, including some currently ongoing legal struggles. So it may be a good thing for her.

From what little i know of it, she's easily demonstrated that she is a danger to herself and others, but besides that, it's not hard to have this done in the US.
i also believe she's better for it. She's proven to be impulsive with an inability to make responsible decisions, whatever the many reasons. It doesn't seem she can function well without some external discipline so this will establish that as she works on herself and all that means.
Because of her unique situation, she won't lack for advocates or have any seeming mistreatment overlooked.

There are a lot of people who are in far more dire straits.

The list of music celebrities who could have benefited from such a thing is long and heartbreaking.

This is true, but the list of young celebrities who were mismanaged or cleaned out by their own parents is almost equally long. It seems like it would be better if it was a third party, or perhaps several- a law firm or something.

But then, it seems like mama spears was the crazy stage mother, maybe dad is a bit more sane. He does seem to have done wonders for her so far, I'll give him that.

This is true, but the list of young celebrities who were mismanaged or cleaned out by their own parents is almost equally long.

True, but those parents weren't working under the supervision of the courts, so I think this will work out OK. He's already done some good stuff- sold some of the extra stuff she bought back when she wasn't so healthy (she owned a lot more cars than one person needed).