Legislative amendments to guardianship and continuing power of attorney 1 May 2026

Legislation on guardianship and continuing power of attorney will be amended on 1 May 2026 as the amendments to the Acts on guardianship services and continuing power of attorney enter into force. The amendments will reduce permit regulation and streamline the activities of guardians and persons granted continuing power of attorney. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will implement changes in its services in accordance with legislation.

Changes in continuing power of attorney

Disqualification provisions to be eased

In the future, a person granted continuous power of attorney will also not be disqualified from representing a client solely on the grounds that the opposing party in a matter that concerns the granter is a sibling of the assigned attorney’s parent. 

The giving of ordinary gifts to be made easier

In the future, the attorney may give ordinary gifts with minor financial significance on behalf of the granter if the grounds for giving these are outlined in the continuing power of attorney document.

However, a person holding continuing power of attorney (attorney) may not give gifts to themselves on behalf of the granter.

Management of legal actions concerning real estate to become easier in newly issued power of attorneys

A continuing power of attorney issued on or after 1 May 2026 will allow the attorney to manage matters concerning the property directly on the basis of a power of attorney if the attorney has been granted the right to manage the granter's property and other financial matters. There no longer needs to be a separate reference to real estate transactions in the power of attorney.

The amendment only applies to continuing power of attorneys signed after the amended Act enters into force.

In continuing power of attorneys issued before 1 May 2026, it had to be separately stipulated that the attorney was entitled to surrender, mortgage or pledge immovable property if the granter wished to grant such a right.

The granter may change the continuing power of attorney they have previously granted by issuing a new continuing power of attorney.

Status of a guardian assigned to the duties of an attorney to be clarified

If a guardian is appointed to carry out the duties of the attorney due to a temporary impediment, their rights and obligations will in the future mainly be determined on the basis of the continuing power of attorney. This ensures that the granter’s wishes are implemented.

Changes in guardianship

Disqualification provisions to be eased

In the future, the guardian will also not be disqualified from representing a client solely on the grounds that the opposing party in a matter that concerns the client is a sibling of the guardian’s parent.

Relaxations and changes to permit regulation

In the future, selling forests and land materials and concluding an agreement on the joint management of an estate will not require permission from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

Regulation concerning the pursuit of business activities will also be eased. Some changes will also be made to the leasing of real estate and apartments, and the permit regulation concerning investment activities will be clarified.

Changes to the registration of guardianship of minors

Regulations on the registration of guardianship of minors will change: the asset limit for registration will rise to EUR 30,000. 

In the future, a guardian acting as the guardian of a minor must, on their own initiative, submit a list of the child’s property to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency only in the event that the value of the minor’s assets exceeds EUR 30,000.

More information:
Act on the Amendment of the Act on Continuing Powers of Attorney 113/2026 (in Finnish)
Act on the Amendment of the Guardianship Services Act 114/2026 (in Finnish)