Britney Spears' father Jamie Spears has agreed to step down as conservator of her estate amid messy legal proceedings in which the pop star has accused him of abuse.
Responding to Britney's petition to have him removed from the role - which has seen him in charge of her personal and financial affairs since 2008 - Jamie insists there are no grounds for his dismissal, but wants to avoid a public battle with his daughter.
"It is highly debatable whether a change in conservator at this time would be in Ms Spears' best interests," documents filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court read.
"Nevertheless, even as Mr Spears is the unremitting target of unjustified attacks, he does not believe that a public battle with his daughter over his continuing service as her conservator would be in her best interests.
"So, even though he must contest this unjustified Petition for his removal, Mr Spears intends to work with the Court and his daughter's new attorney to prepare for an orderly transition to a new conservator."
The statement continued: "Regardless of his formal title, Mr Spears will always be Ms Spears' father, he will always love her unconditionally, and he will always look out for her best interests."
Britney's lawyer Mathew Rosengart said news of Jamie's stepping down was "vindication" for the 'Toxic' hitmaker, but they would continue to investigate his conduct during his time as conservator.
Rosengart added he and Britney were "disappointed" at Jamie and his team's "ongoing shameful and reprehensible attacks on Ms Spears and others".
"We look forward to continuing our vigorous investigation into the conduct of Mr Spears, and others, over the past 13 years, while he reaped millions of dollars from his daughter's estate, and I look forward to taking Mr Spears' sworn deposition in the near future," Rosengart said in a statement.
In two emotional court testimonies, Britney called for her father to be "jailed", saying she wanted to "sue her whole family" and claiming she had been forced to work as a "slave". The Grammy winner said she had been drugged against her will, restricted from spending her own money and prevented from having an IUD removed to stop her from having another child.
