Britney Spears' conservatorship, also known as a legal guardianship, was implemented in 2008 after Spears experienced several mental breakdowns.

Under the arrangement, Spears has no legal control over her estate or financial and personal assets — those rights were granted to her father and a lawyer.

While supporters of the #FreeBritney movement say Spears is being manipulated, those involved in the conservatorship say she's very involved in decision-making.

The conservatorship was recently extended through February 1, 2021, and a recent court filing revealed that Spears wants to make her future court hearings public.

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Britney Spears hasn't legally controlled her life and fortune in 12 years.

The conservatorship — a legal guardianship typically enacted for those incapable of making their own decisions — was approved by the court in 2008 after Spears had several public mental breakdowns. The arrangement put her estate, financial assets, and some personal assets under the control of her father and a lawyer.

Earlier in August, Spears asked for her father to be removed as sole conservator of her estate, according to court documents. However, after a hearing on August 19, the judge opted to extend the conservatorship in its current form through February 1 of next year.

Since its implementation, the conservatorship has generated a lot of controversy among Spears' fans. Some think she's being controlled and manipulated, which has fueled the #FreeBritney movement. But those close to Spears have told several media outlets over the years that the conservatorship is meant to help the pop icon and that she is very involved in business decisions.

But a new court filing revealed that Spears wants her future court hearings open to the public, reported Natalie Morin for Refinery29. Her lawyer wrote that the #FreeBritney movement is "far from being a conspiracy theory."

A representative for Spears didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on this story.

Here's a look inside the complex arrangement that is Spears' conservatorship.