Processing of a guardianship matter by the guardianship authority

The processing of a guardianship matter by the guardianship authority will vary depending on whether the matter has been initiated via an application by the person in need of guardianship or via a notification from a third party. The guardianship authority may decide on a matter wherein a person has applied to have a guardian for themself. A notification sent to the guardianship authority will result in the authority determining whether the person is in need of guardianship and, if necessary, submitting an application to the District Court for the appointment of a guardian. Thus, not all notifications sent to the guardianship authority will result in the appointment of a guardian.

Consultation of the applicant

When a person requests that the guardianship authority appoint a guardian for themself, the authority always hears the applicant in person. This means a casual meeting at which the applicant and authority discuss matters related to the appointment of a guardian. As a rule, the consultation will take place at the guardianship authority's unit or remotely online. A remote connection can be established, for example, from a service point/joint service point or from the computer of a nursing home, social worker or other official. A consultation can also be arranged remotely from another unit of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. The consultation can be arranged, for example, in a hospital or a nursing home, if the event cannot be arranged otherwise.

Consultation of close family and friends

As a rule, when a person has submitted their own application for guardianship, the applicant's opinion will determine whether their family and friends are heard in connection with the processing of the matter. If necessary, the authority may consult the applicant's spouse, child or another person who is close to them. Family and friends are generally heard in written format.

Processing of a guardianship matter and the investigation of the situation

As a rule, the processing of a notification by the guardianship authority is based on documentation. Where possible, the authority will investigate the need for guardianship of the subject of the notification by hearing the person themself. Where necessary, the authority will also hear the individual’s family and friends.

For example, the authority may hear a spouse, children or a person who has previously managed the person’s affairs.

The guardianship authority may investigate the need for guardianship by acquiring other reports and statements that it considers necessary. For example, statements and reports can be requested from enforcement authorities, social welfare services, health care services, banks, KELA and other parties that may have the necessary information to resolve the matter.

Reports necessary in a guardianship matter

In connection with the consideration on the appointment of a guardian, a medical opinion on the state of health of the individual presented for guardianship is usually obtained. For medical reasons, the medical opinion presents reasoned conclusions on, for example, whether a person is able to supervise their own interests or to manage matters concerning themself or their wealth. In the statement, the physician also gives an opinion, for example, on whether the person concerned is able to understand the significance of the appointment of a guardian, whether he or she can be heard in the matter in person and what kind of financial, legal or personal matters the person in question needs the support of a guardian.

When a person requests that a guardian be appointed for themself, the applicant must obtain a medical opinion on the state of his or her own health. The medical opinion will be attached to a written application for the appointment of a guardian. If the medical opinion is not attached to the application, the guardianship authority will ask the applicant to supplement the application with a missing medical opinion.

When the guardianship authority receives a notification of a person in need of guardianship, the authority will, where necessary, obtain a medical opinion to assess the need for guardianship. Notwithstanding confidentiality provisions, the guardianship authority has the right to obtain the information and reports that are necessary for resolving a matter of guardianship. See the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health guidelines 1999:51 (in Finnish).

The guardianship authority may request a statement from the municipal social welfare or health care body on the social and economic conditions of the person who has been presented as needing guardianship if a statement is necessary for resolving the matter of guardianship. The statement is requested from the social and health sector body of the municipality where the person presented for guardianship has their municipality of residence or is mainly present. The authority may request that the statement contain information, for example, on the affairs the person presented for guardianship needs managed and what problems they have encountered in their management.

Guardianship Services contact information

Email

When sending an email, please use the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s secure email to ensure that your information is sent securely. Select [email protected] as the recipient in the secure mail

Send the email as a secure email

Postal address

Digital and Population Data Services Agency / Guardianship, PO Box 1001, FI-02151 Espoo

With the exception of property inventories, annual statements and final statements, you can send all post to the Guardianship Service to the address listed above. The three separately specified reports must be mailed to the postal address of the service location responsible for their monitoring.

Telephone number

The telephone service is open 9.00-15.00 on weekdays

Service number +358 295 536 256

Service locations

Addresses of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s service location

Population of Finland 5 545 128