To get the best help for your situation, first answer the questions on the guide's start page.
To get the best help for your situation, first answer the questions on the guide's start page.
You can grant a continuing power of attorney if you are at least 18 years old and you are able to understand the contents and meaning of the arrangement. Legal aid offices, law firms and notarial services provided by banks can help you in the preparation of the document.
You should appoint an attorney, a secondary attorney and a replacement attorney. However, you can prepare a continuing power of attorney even if you could only appoint a single person for the task. When considering the appointments, select persons that you can trust.
Read more: Selecting the attorney
A continuing power of attorney may contain provisions on the following:
Make sure that the power of attorney contains all mandatory matters such as the entry into force condition.
Read more: What should be stated in the continuing power of attorney document?
You need two impartial witnesses when the continuing power of attorney is signed. Both witnesses must be present at the same time when you sign the document.
Keep the continuing power of attorney in a place where the attorney can easily find it when it is needed. The continuing power of attorney document cannot be sent to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency for storage. The attorney should only send the document to the agency for validation when it must be used.
Read more: Keeping and confirming the continuing power of attorney document
If you want to change the continuing power of attorney, you must prepare a new power of attorney. You can cancel the continuing power of attorney by destroying all original copies of the document that you have prepared.
Read more: Cancelling or changing the continuing power of attorney
You can apply for the validation of the power of attorney from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency when the granter is no longer able to manage his or her own affairs.
Send the original power of attorney document, the application and a medical certificate to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
You can speed up the validation process by requesting a statement from the granter and the granter’s spouse. You will be notified by post or by email when the power of attorney has been validated.
Read more: Starting to use the power of attorney
After the continuing power of attorney has been validated, you must prepare an inventory of the granter's assets and debts for the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. The inventory must be prepared within three months of the validation. Keep a record of the granter’s assets and debts and transactions carried out during the accounting period.
Read more: Managing matters with a continuing power of attorney
When using the continuing power of attorney in contacts with different parties, show them the validation decision and the power of attorney document attached to it.
Your obligations as the attorney depend on the reasons why the power of attorney expires.
Powers of attorney, Suomi.fi e-Authorizations and bank account user rights are some of the options available if you have to manage financial matters on behalf of a close person.
If these options are not enough, a guardian may be needed.
Read more: Does my loved one need a guardian?
A private person can be appointed as the guardian, or the task may be carried out by a public guardian who is not a friend or a family member of the client. Could you serve as the guardian of a person close to you?
Any person that meets the legal requirements and agrees to perform the task can serve as the guardian of a close person. The suitability is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Read more: Who can serve as a guardian?
Submit a notification of a person in need of guardianship to the Digital and Population Data Services AgencyOpens in a new window.. You should state in the notification whether you would like to have a private or public guardian.
The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will contact the person in question and determine whether a guardian is needed.
Ensuring the wellbeing of a close person can be a major concern. Peer support is provided by a range of different associations.
Read more: What kind of peer support and counselling is available?
If you are the guardian of a close person, you must prepare an inventory of their assets and debts. You must send the inventory to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency within three months of the guardianship start date.
As the guardian, you must keep a record of how the assets of your client are used and prepare an annual statement on this basis. You must prepare the annual statement each year and return it within three months of the end of the accounting period.
Read more: Tasks and obligations of the guardian
When the guardianship ends you must still prepare the final statement. Prepare the final statement for the period that is not covered by the last annual statement.
Guardianship will end if
You must report the details of your child’s assets to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency if:
Once the Digital and Population Data Services Agency has registered the child’s data, draw up a property inventory.
Read more: When does a child need a guardian?
You are responsible for your children’s property and for managing their finances on their behalf.
Make sure that
Keep records on the use of your child’s money and prepare the annual statement on this basis. You must prepare the annual statement each year. You must return the annual statement within three months of the end of the accounting period (by the end of March).
You must apply for permission from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency for major transactions that you carry out on behalf of your child.
Following are some of the transactions requiring permission
Read more: Which actions need permission?
You must submit the final statement when your guardianship assignment ends or when the guardianship is removed from the Register of Guardianship Affairs:
Read more: When your guardianship duties are ending
Different methods include powers of attorney, Suomi.fi e-Authorizations and bank account user rights.
If possible, make a power of attorney.
If these options are not enough, a guardian may be needed.
Read more: Help with managing finances
The guardian may be a private person, i.e., a private guardian, or a public guardian who works as a guardian.
A person who is suitable for the task and has agreed to be a guardian may act as a private guardian. A private guardian is often someone close to you, such as a family member, friend or relative.
If you need a guardian, apply for it with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. Attach a medical statement on your state of health to your application.
To apply for a guardian, you must understand what the appointment of a guardian means for you.
If your situation changes and you no longer need a guardian, you may apply for the termination of the guardianship with your guardian. Applications for termination must be submitted to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
Read more: Changing guardians or termination of guardianship