Information for guardian
How should the property of a minor be managed?
The property of a minor must be managed carefully and systematically. It can only be used for their benefit and personal needs. The property owned by a minor does not remove their parents’ maintenance obligation.
As a rule, the parents of a minor are responsible for the child's maintenance and personal needs, such as housing, clothing, food, education and ordinary hobby expenses.
A minor is never required to participate in the maintenance of their parents or siblings. Only the pension income received by a minor can be used for their normal living costs, but their other property cannot be used without special grounds. These special grounds may include, for example, the guardian's reduced maintenance capacity due to illness, unemployment or other similar reason.
The guardian of a minor may not
- mix the minor’s assets with another person’s assets
- donate the minor’s property
- loan or personally borrow from the minor’s assets without our permission.
An orphan’s pension is paid to a child under the age of 18 in the even that they lose their guardians. This pension may be used for their living costs.
If the pension as a whole is spent on the minor’s living costs, it is possible to direct the pension income directly to the parent’s account. Otherwise, they must be deposited in the minor’s account.
Receiving an orphan’s pension does not remove the parent’s maintenance obligation.
Funds that have been set aside as savings must be invested safely. For example, an insurance compensation received by a minor must always be deposited in a bank account in their name or in another investment object in their name. Any property acquired with the funds of a minor, such as a moped, must be in the minor’s name. Read more about the use of a minor’s property.
The guardian is required to keep account statements, receipts and other documents related to the management of the minor’s property. These documents will help the guardian show their adult child how they managed their property while they were a minor. We may also ask the guardian to present these documents.
Do you need help?
Read the frequently asked questions about guardianship of a minor.
Telephone service: 0295 536 256.
Service hours: Mon–Fri 9–15.
Customer service for family relations and custodian information regarding minors recorded in the Finnish Population information System visit our website.