Ministry of Justice, Finland

The tasks of a guardian are set by the Registry Office or the District Court. Normally, the guardian is assigned to look after the property and financial affairs of the client.

In addition to financial affairs, the guardian must see to it that the client receives suitable treatment, care and rehabilitation. If necessary, the guardian must be in contact with e.g. the municipal medical and health care authorities.

The guardian must see to it that the client has enough of his or her own money for personal use.

The guardian must keep accounts of the client’s assets and liabilities and of the events of the accounting period. In the beginning of his or her appointment, the guardian must present the Registry Office with an inventory of the assets and liabilities of the client. Thereafter, the guardian must draw up regular, normally annual, account statements and submit these to the Registry Office.

The guardian needs the permission of the Registry Office for certain important transactions to be concluded on behalf of the client. A permission is required e.g. for the buying and selling of real estate and the pledging of property as collateral for debt. The guardian is not empowered to donate the assets of the client.

The guardian is entitled to compensation for expenses and a reasonable fee. Information on the compensation and fee is entered in the account statement to be given to the Registry Office.