Guardianship ends 

The role of guardian ends on the date of their client's death. The guardian does not have to perform the duties of the client's estate. However, they must give us a final statement without delay for the period for which they have not previously submitted an annual statement. The accounting period ends on the day of the client’s death. Read more about preparing a final statement. 

In addition, the guardian must hand over the client's property under their management to the shareholders of the client's estate. 

Guardianship ends when the guardian has completed the task for which they have been appointed. For example, the guardian may have been ordered to sell their client's apartment. In this case, the guardianship ends when the apartment has been sold and the purchase price has been deposited in the client's account. 

We do not need to be notified that the guardian has completed their task. However, we may later ask the guardian for information related to the handling of their tasks. They should therefore keep a record of the handling of their tasks. 

If the guardian’s duties included the management of assets, after the termination of guardianship, they must promptly submit a final statement for the period they have not previously provided an annual statement for. The accounting period ends on the termination date of the guardianship. Read more about preparing a final statement.

The substitute guardian's task ends when they have completed the task for which they have been assigned.  

We do not need to be notified that the guardian's substitute has completed their task. However, we may later ask them for information related to the handling of their tasks. They should therefore keep a record of the handling of their tasks. 

A guardian may be appointed for an indefinite period or for a fixed period of time such as two years. If the guardian has been appointed for a fixed period, their task ends automatically when the period ends.  

If the guardian's task has included the management of the client's property, the guardian must hand over the client's property under their management to their client. In addition, the guardian must give us a final statement. Read more about preparing a final statement.

If the client needs guardianship even after the expiry of the deadline, the client and the guardian can jointly submit an application for continuing guardianship to us. The application must be submitted well in advance of the end of the task, so that the guardianship is not interrupted. 

A) Client and guardian: do this if you can apply together 

1. Discuss the situation. 
2. Get a medical certificate for the client. 
3. Please fill in the application together to continue the guardianship (in Finnish). 
4. Submit the application and medical certificate to us at Digital and Population Data Services Agency / Guardianship Services, P.O. Box 1004, FI-00531 Helsinki, Finland. 
5. We will process your application and examine whether continuing guardianship is necessary. In addition, we will examine the client's opinion personally (hearing) primarily as a video call if they understand the significance of the matter. We will contact the client so that we can schedule a hearing. 
6. We will issue a decision on the matter.  

If continuing the guardianship is necessary, we will make a positive decision on the matter, i.e. we will order the guardianship to continue.  

If continuing the guardianship is not necessary or if you withdraw the application, the guardianship ends when the original period expires. 

B) If you cannot make a joint application

The client or guardian may apply to the district court to change the validity period of the guardianship. We can also, as the guardianship authority, make such an application if we have been informed of the matter and a change in the guardianship period is necessary.

C) If the guardianship expires

You can apply for a new guardian to be appointed for you. (in Finnish)

The guardian and the client may apply for the termination of the guardianship together if the guardianship is no longer needed.  

The need for guardianship may end because: 

• the client's state of health has improved so that they can manage their affairs 
• the client's circumstances have changed so that their case can be handled with lighter alternatives than guardianship. 

A) Client and guardian: do this if you can apply together 

1. Discuss the situation. 

2. We may require a medical certicate about the client. Providing it with your application may expedite the processing of the matter.

3. Please, complete the application for the termination of guardianship together (in Finnish).

4. Please, send the application and any medical certificate to us at Digital and Population Data Services Agency / Guardianship Services, P.O. Box 1004, FI-00531 Helsinki, Finland. 

5. We will process your application and examine whether the guardianship can be discontinued. In addition, we will examine the client's opinion personally (hearing) primarily as a video call if they understand the significance of the matter. We will contact the client so that we can schedule a hearing. 

6. We will issue a decision on the matter.  

If a guardianship is no longer necessary, we will make a positive decision on the matter, i.e. we will order the guardianship to end.  

If guardianship is necessary or if you withdraw the application, we will not discontinue it. 

7. The guardianship ends only when the decision to terminate the guardianship becomes final. If the decision has not been appealed, it becomes legally valid 30 days after its date of service. The date of notification shall be:  

• 3 days after the date on which the decision was sent, if sent by email or through Suomi.fi messages.
• 7 days after the date on which the decision was sent, if sent by post. 

8. The guardian must still draw up a final statement. The decision we made indicates when the guardian's duties have ended, i.e. what is the last day of the financial year.  

B) If you cannot make a joint application

1. The client or guardian may apply to the district court for the termination of the guardianship. We, as the guardianship authority, can also make such an application if we are informed of the matter and the termination of guardianship is necessary.

2. When the guardianship ends, the guardian must immediately give us a final statement for the period for which they have not previously issued an annual statement. Read more about preparing a final statement. The guardian must also hand over the client's property under their care to their client.  

If you are a private person and have been appointed as a guardian based on your consent, you may request to be relieved of the guardian’s task at any time.  

If your client still needs guardianship, we will arrange a new guardian for them. We often discharge a guardian from their duties and appoint a new guardian at the same time. 

You must continue to deal with your client's affairs until we have made a decision relieving you of your duties and appointing a new guardian. 

A) Guardian and client: proceed as follows if you can apply together

1. Please complete the application for the release/change of guardian (in Finnish) together.

2. We may need a medical certificate about the principal. Providing it with your application can speed up the processing of the matter.

3. Send the application and any medical certificate to us at Digital and Population Data Services Agency / Guardianship Services, P.O. Box 1001, FI-02151 Espoo. 

4. We will process your application and examine whether the guardian is still necessary and who we appoint as the new guardian. In addition, we will examine the client's opinion personally (hearing) primarily as a video call if they understand the significance of the matter. We will contact the client so that we can schedule a hearing. 

5. We will issue a decision on the matter.  
We notify the discharged guardian, the new guardian and the client of the decision.  

The released guardian’s duties end on the day we make a decision in the matter. A new guardian will begin their duties from the decision we make.

6. The released guardian must promptly submit a final statement for the period they have not previously provided an annual statement for. Read more about preparing a final statement. The released guardian must also hand over the principal’s assets under management to the new guardian. Read more about preparing a final statement.

B) Guardian’s action if you make the application alone

1. Only apply alone if you cannot do it together with your client. Fill in the application to release/change the guardian (in Finnish).

2. Send the application to us at Digital and Population Data Services Agency / Guardianship Services, PO Box 1004, FI-00531 Helsinki, Finland. 

3. We will process your application and determine whether the guardian is still necessary and who can be appointed as the new guardian. If necessary, we will also ask for the client’s opinion on the matter.

4. We can release you from the guardian’s duties and appoint a new guardian for your client at the same time if, following your application, your client requests a new guardian, understands the importance of the matter, and can be heard personally. If this is not the case, we will apply to the District Court to release you from your duties and appoint a new guardian for the client. The district court will decide the matter.

5. The guardian's task ends only after the District Court, or we have made a decision on the matter. You will then have to draw up a final statement. Read more about preparing a final statement. The new guardian will start to perform the task from the decision of the District Court or from our decision. 

C) Client: proceed as follows if you do not make the application together with your guardian

So, you want the guardian to be released from their duties and a new guardian to be appointed for you.

1. Fill out the application for the release/change of the guardian.

2. Send the application to us at Digital and population data services agency/ Guardianship Services, P.O. Box 1004, 00531 Helsinki.

3. We will process your application and determine whether the current guardian should be released from their duties and whether a new guardian should be appointed for you. We will also ask the guardian’s opinion on the matter.

4. We can release the guardian from their duties and appoint a new guardian at the same time if, following your application, the guardian requests to be released from their duties, you understand the importance of the matter, and you can be heard personally. If this is not the case, and if it is necessary to release the guardian and appoint a new one, we will apply to the district court. The district court will decide the matter.

5. The guardian’s duties end only when the district court or we have made a decision in the matter. After this, the guardian must still prepare a final statement A new guardian will begin their duties from the decision made by the district court or us.

If a private person who has acted as a guardian dies, some of their obligations are transferred to the party to whom the administration of the estate belongs. The administration of the estate is usually the responsibility of the stakeholders of the estate. One of the shareholders must notify us of the death of the guardian without delay so that we can arrange a new guardian for the client.  

The estate must take care of the client's property as long as it is in the possession of the estate. In addition, the estate must give us a final statement for the period for which the annual statement had not yet been issued. Read more about preparing a final statement.

If the client's place of residence has changed to a foreign state, the guardianship does not end as such, but we can decide that we will stop supervising the guardian's activities in Finland. Instead of us, the authority of another country can start monitoring the activities of the guardian. 

Ending the guardianship requires one of the following: 

• Supervision of the activities of the guardian has been organised abroad. 
• In practice, our supervision in Finland will become ineffective. 

We can make a decision on our own initiative or on the basis of a client's or guardian's application.  

If your client has moved abroad, you should first find out how the authorities in the new country of residence can monitor your activities. Then submit a free-form application for discontinuing our supervision.  

If your client has moved to another Nordic country, the supervision will not be discontinued, but will be transferred to the authority of the new country of residence. In other words, the transfer is made between the Nordic authorities. In this case, please contact us so that we can agree on practical matters.