Image Source: Times of India

Amanda Bynes officially wants to be free!

According to reports by Page Six, actress Amanda Bynes has filed a petition at Ventura County Superior Court and requested the court to end the nine-year-long conservatorship she’s been under since 2013. Amanda Bynes has also filed a capacity declaration Tuesday as according to reports, California requires all conservatorship cases to have updated records about the conservatee’s mental state from their physician, psychologist, or religious healing practitioner.

Amanda’s lawyer David A. Esquibias shared with People magazine that the actress feels much better now. Her lawyer stated, "Amanda wishes to terminate her conservatorship. She believes her condition is improved and protection of the court is no longer necessary."

David shared in September "It is open day to day. A status report regarding her health and welfare was recently filed and approved by the court. By law, the next status report is due in two years. Her conservatorship will terminate when it is no longer convenient for Amanda." In October 2020, Amanda Bynes’ lawyer told to People that she is working on getting her degree and added, "Amanda is very entrepreneurial. She is investigating fragrances. She is now considering perfume in addition to a clothing line. But, don't get too excited. She is still a student at FIDM earning her degree."

Amanda Bynes with her mother Lynn Organ. Image Source: E! Online

Amanda Bynes began her career as a childhood star and became one of the most popular actresses in the industry but she struggled with mental health and substance addiction and thus, in 2013 was put on a temporary conservatorship by the members of her family and she remained in those guidelines ever since. Amanda Bynes’ mother Lynn Organ is the one who has control over her conservatorship. The actress has been involved in erratic incidents including starting a small fire in the driveway, hit and run, and DUI incidents which led to her conservatorship.

The actress who was at the peak of her career decided to take a step back from acting and started to focus on getting sober. She spent her time studying at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and graduated in 2019. Lynn Organ’s lawyer Tamar Arminak spoke to Variety and stated that her mother supports the termination and expects that the conservatorship will come to an end around the upcoming court date. Tamar said, “This conservatorship that Lynn brought has always been intended to be temporary, and Lynn is extremely happy and thrilled and proud of Amanda and ready to terminate this conservatorship based on the hard work Amanda has done.” It is to be reported that Amanda Bynes' assets are a part of the separate trust that is overseen by her father and is not subjected to conservatorship.

In her 2018 interview with Paper Magazine, Amanda shared about her journey of being sober for past years and the amount of shame she felt when she looked back to her previous actions. She said at the time, "I definitely abused Adderall. I remember reading an article in a magazine that [called Adderall] 'the new skinny pill' and they were talking about how women were taking it to stay thin. I was like, 'Well, I have to get my hands on that.” She added that she got her hands on a prescription after heading to "a psychiatrist and faking the symptoms of ADD." She also opened up about the struggles she had to face after deciding to leave Hollywood, “I just had no purpose in life. I'd been working my whole life and (then) I was doing nothing. I had a lot of time on my hands and I would 'wake and bake' and literally be stoned all day long ... I got really into my drug usage and it became a really dark, sad world for me. I have no fear of the future. I've been through the worst and came out the other end and survived it, so I just feel like it's only up from here.”

Amanda Bynes announced her engagement with Paul Michael in 2020. Image Source: Cosmopolitan Middle East 

In 2014, Amanda Bynes accused her father of sexual and emotional abuse in a series of tweets and a month later took accountability for her actions and revealed that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In her interview with Paper Magazine, she said, “I’m really ashamed and embarrassed with the things I said. I can’t turn back time but if I could, I would. I’m so sorry to whoever I hurt and whoever I lied about because it truly eats away at me. It makes me feel so horrible and sick to my stomach and sad. “

In 2017, Amanda Bynes’ mother filed a petition to allow the actress to regain full control of her finances and stated in court that she was in a great place and just controls the actress’ medical and personal affairs. In 2020, the actress announced her engagement to Paul Michael, whom she met at AA meetings. According to reports, Amanda is going to focus on fashion and even develop fragrance but has not hinted her return to acting. 

A date for Amanda Bynes’ conservatorship hearing case is set for March 22nd, 2022.