Accountability at the beginning of guardianship

During your time as guardian, you are entitled to access all the information your client has the right to access.

Yes, you are. You are obligated to secrecy in all matters related to your duties as guardian. However, your client can give you the right to discuss matters concerning them with a third party or to disclose information concerning the client.

As a rule, an accounting period is equivalent to one calendar year. The exceptions to this rule are the first and the last accounting periods. The first accounting period begins from the date on which a guardian is appointed and ends on 31 December.

This is the responsibility of the guardian. The guardian can also purchase the service from an accounting agency. If this is done, the cost of the accounting agency’s services must be deducted from the guardian’s possible fee. The guardian is responsible for the provided data and signs the documents submitted to the guardianship authority.

Data is calculated on the basis of the information provided in account statements. The data is itemised according to type of revenue and reported as both a total sum for the entire accounting period and itemised amounts.

Data is calculated on the basis of the information provided in account statements. Data will be itemised by expenditure type and reported as both a total sum for the entire accounting period and itemised amounts.

Resale price

This is not recommended. Taxable value is often not equivalent to the fair value. Property is valued at fair value, so that it gives an accurate picture of the value of the client’s property.

Yes, you can. However, this will require that the fair value has remained almost the same. If the location has been renovated or other activities have been carried out, it may be necessary to redetermine the fair value.

As guardian, this is a task you are responsible for. No expert statements on fair value are required for either the property inventory or the annual and final statements. Another justified evaluation is adequate.

• You can examine sales price statistics to compare the going price of similar apartments/properties.
• The value can be justified also on the basis of renovation or improvement work completed at the location.
• For more information on forest holding, please see the Metsaan.fi service.
• Estate inventory deeds or inheritance settlement deeds if these are recent.
• If an assessment by an expert is necessary for the management of duties, you can request an assessment from a real property agent, building manager or forest sector expert.

The Finnish Tax Administration website contains formulas for the calculation of various situations.

By asking enforcement services and banks.

Normal home property does not need to be reported. Report vehicles that cause expenses.

You cannot represent yourself as a debtor and the client as the creditor. You are thus disqualified, and you must look for someone to act as a substitute guardian. In addition, lending money from your client’s assets is subject to a licence. The loan must include interest and a guarantee. Giving a loan must in any case be in the interest of your client. A decision on the licence will be subject to a charge and the decision can be a negative one.

Not on the initiative of the guardian. Only the client can give gifts. If the client wants to give a gift, which is considered normal in the circumstances and insignificant in financial value, the guardian can carry out the matter at the request of the client. The client must always understand the meaning of giving a gift and be able to independently make the choice on giving a gift. If the client does not understand the meaning of giving a gift, the guardian cannot give a gift even if it is of little financial value.

Yes, you can. There is a separate calculator (in Finnish) for the calculation of a guardian’s fee. As guardian, you will report your fee to the Incomes Register. Read the instructions on how to submit guardianship fee data to the Incomes Register.

As guardian, you have the right to receive compensation for expenses, which have resulted from the management of your client’s financial affairs. You must always manage your client's affairs in the manner that is most appropriate and affordable. You must provide calculation on expenses, which have resulted from the management of your client’s financial affairs. As guardian, you cannot directly base expenses on the kilometre expenses determined by the Finnish Tax Administration or Kela. As guardian, you will submit a request for compensation for necessary expenses.

If you have not been appointed to handle your client’s personal affairs, you cannot charge compensation for expenses for the management of this type of matters (e.g. grocery shopping, doctor’s visits, health and recreational visits). Your role as a family member must also always be separate from your role as guardian; the tasks you handle in your role as a family member, cannot be charged for during guardianship. As guardian, you will also report compensation for expenses to the Incomes Register. See instructions for reporting data to the Incomes Register.