Guardianship and continuing power of attorney

Below are some of the situations in which the guardianship will be terminated:

• the client's condition improves and the client no longer needs a guardian
• the guardian has been appointed for a fixed period. In such cases, the guardianship ends automatically at the end of this period
• the guardian no longer wants to serve as the guardian
• the client or the guardian dies.

It may also be that the guardianship continues but some of the guardianship tasks will no longer be carried out.

Termination of guardianship - Digital and Population Data Services AgencyOpens in a new window.

If the client no longer needs a guardian, the client and the guardian may jointly apply for the termination of the guardianship from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (the website is in Finnish). The requirement is that the client is able to understand what this means.

If you, as the guardian, disagree with the client on the need for guardianship, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency cannot terminate the guardianship. However, if the client thinks that they do not need a guardian, the client can apply for the termination of the guardianship from a District Court, which makes the final decision on the matter.

If you are no longer able or willing to serve as the guardian, you can apply to be relieved of the task and send the application to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. You do not need to give any reasons for your decision. You should be prepared to continue in the task until a new guardian has been appointed.

If the person close to you still needs a guardian, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency must find a new guardian for the client. You can propose a new guardian as you are applying to be relieved of the task. It is quite common that at some point the client's family members want to transfer the guardian's tasks to a younger person. The proposed replacement must agree to serve as a guardian and their suitability for the task will be checked.

If your client no longer understands what appointing a guardian means, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency will ask a District Court to appoint a new guardian.

Read more about giving up the guardian’s task on the website of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.Opens in a new window.

Discuss the matter with the client and the current guardian. If the current guardian agrees with you, they can, in agreement with the client, ask to be relieved of the guardian’s duties and propose you as the new guardian. You must give written consent to the task. 

When your tasks as the guardian end, you must submit the final statement to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency within two months of the end of the assignment Prepare the final statement for the period that is not covered by the last annual statement. Such matters as the client’s assets and debts must be entered in the final statement. 

You must keep the guardianship documents for at least three years from the date on which your guardianship tasks came to an end. Depending on the situation, you may also have other obligations. 

Accountability when guardianship comes to an endOpens in a new window.