Applying for a guardian
A guardian is appointed by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency or a district court.
If a person himself or herself notices that he or she is, due to a degraded capacity, in need of support and assistance of a guardian, he or she may file a written petition with the Digital and Population Data Service Agency. A petition for the appointment of a guardian may also be filed with a district court. A close relative or a social welfare authority, for example, may also notify the Digital and Population Data Service Agency of a person who might need a guardian.
The Digital and Population Data Service Agency establishes, based on the petition or notification, whether a certain person needs guardianship services. The Digital and Population Data Service Agency may also file a petition with the district court.
The Digital and Population Data Service Agency provides advice and guidance in the procedure for appointing a guardian.
Duties of a guardian
The duties of a guardian are determined by the Digital and Population Data Service Agency or a district court or a district court. Usually, a guardian’s duty is to take care of the client’s property and to attend to his or her financial matters.
In addition to attendance to financial matters, the guardian must ensure that the client receives appropriate treatment, care and rehabilitation. The guardian must, where necessary, cooperate for example with the municipal healthcare and social welfare authorities.
The guardian must ensure that the client has a sufficient amount of his or her assets in his or her personal use.
The guardian must keep accounts of the client’s assets and debts and the transactions during the accounting period. When commencing his or her duties, the guardian must provide the local register office with an inventory of the client’s assets and debts. The guardian must regularly, usually once a year, draw up an account statement and submit it to the local register office.
The guardian must obtain permission from the Digital and Population Data Service Agency or a district court for important legal acts to be performed on behalf of the client. Permission is required for example for sale or purchase of an apartment or real estate and for mortgage of property. The guardian does not have the right to make donations on behalf of his or her client.
What do guardianship services cost?
A guardian is entitled to receive a reasonable fee and compensation for his or her expenses. Provisions on the amount of the fee are laid down by government decree (696/2012) (in Finnish). The amount of the fee is determined on the basis of the contents of the guardian’s duties and the client’s income and property.
If the duties are attended to by a public guardian, the fee is paid to the employer of the guardian.
The minimum fee is EUR 330 per year. The amount of the fee can be calculated in the electronic fee form available at the website of the Digital and Population Data Service Agency (in Finnish).