According to new legal documents, Britney Spears’ father, Jamie, has agreed to step down from his long-contested role in her conservatorship. As reported by the Guardian, court filings from Jamie Spears’ lawyers state that he “intends to work with the court and his daughter’s new attorney to prepare for an orderly transition to a new conservator”.

The filing adds that Mr Spears had “already been working on such a transition” with the pop star’s previous lawyer. Nevertheless, the development would mark a massive shift in the years-long conservatorship case, which has seen Jamie control many aspects of his daughter’s life, including her career and finances, since the arrangement began in 2008, following her five-day admission to a psychiatric hospital.

“Mr Spears continues to serve dutifully, and he should not be suspended or removed, and certainly not based on false allegations,” the filing goes on, adding: “Mr Spears is willing to step down when the time is right, but the transition needs to be orderly and include a resolution of matters pending before the court.”

The documents also echo Jamie Spears’ previous attempts to defend his position, saying that there are “no actual grounds for suspending or removing Mr Spears as the conservator of the estate... 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.”

Last month, Britney Spears acknowledged the widespread #FreeBritney movement for the first time, having openly addressed the court about her alleged mistreatment under the rules of the conservatorship the month before. She’s since called out her father and sister in a scathing social media post.

On August 12, a lawyer for Britney Spears, Mathew Rosengart, confirmed her father’s agreement to step down as her conservator to multiple media outlets. “We are pleased that Mr Spears and his lawyer have today conceded in a filing that he must be removed,” says Rosengart. “It is vindication for Britney. We are disappointed, however, by their ongoing shameful and reprehensible attacks on Ms Spears and others.”