Guardianship and continuing power of attorney

Under the law, you cannot use the online banking codes of other persons as the codes are unique to each individual. You can ask a bank whether you could get bank account user rights or use a power of attorney. A person close to you can grant you a power of attorney for banking affairs if the person in question understands the meaning of the document.

If you want to help a person close to you to manage their official matters electronically, the person in question can grant you the right to act on their behalf using Suomi.fi e-Authorizations. A mandate granted via Suomi.fi e-Authorizations is an electronic power of attorney. If a guardian is appointed to your loved one at a later time, some of the Suomi.fi e-Authorizations already granted by them may expire. Read more about the mandates of a person under guardianship. 

If the person close to you does not have any online banking codes, you can discuss different invoice payment methods with the bank. You can, for example, use the direct payment service or payment service envelopes. 

In addition to online banking codes, you can also use a mobile certificate or an ID card to log into official e-services. If none of these methods is available, it is virtually impossible to access such services as MyKanta. 

You can also make health-related enquiries by phone. Getting information is easier if the person close to you has authorised the relevant health care unit to disclose information about them. The person close to you can complete the prescription authorisation form so that you can make purchases in a pharmacy on their behalf.

A continuing power of attorney is an easier way to organise the management of the affairs of a close person than guardianship. Continuing power of attorney means that the person in question determines in advance who can manage his or her affairs and how they can be managed. The contents of the arrangement are stated in the continuing power of attorney document.

Continuing power of attorney is a good option if the person close to you is able to prepare the document.

If the person in question is no longer able to prepare the document, continuing power of attorney is no longer an option. You cannot prepare a continuing power of attorney on behalf of another person. 

If a person close to you has prepared a continuing power of attorney and can no longer manage their affairs, the best option might be to apply for the validation of the continuing power of attorney. Validation means that the person authorised by the person close to you will start serving as their donee. 

A guardian is usually appointed to manage the property and finances of the client. Management of finances may also include applying for social benefits. If necessary, the guardian must also be in contact with health and social services and ensure that the client will receive appropriate care and rehabilitation. 

A guardian may also be appointed to perform a single task, such as the sale of real estate or the division of inheritance.

A guardian can be appointed until further notice or for a fixed period.

Guardianship means the management of other persons’ finances and looking after their interests when they are no longer able to do it and their affairs can no longer be managed in any other way. The need for guardianship is determined by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

A guardian is a person that has been appointed by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency or a court to manage the property and finances of another person and to look after the interests of this person. The activities of the guardians are supervised by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. The guardian may be a private guardian or a public guardian.

Client is the person whose interests are looked after. The guardian looks after the interests of the client.

Continuing power of attorney and guardianship are two different things. With a continuing power of attorney, you can decide in advance who will manage your affairs and how. 

A donee is a person that has been authorised to manage the affairs of another person on the basis of a continuing power of attorney. A donee and a guardian are two different things. A donee has fewer obligations than a guardian. 

Guardianship and informal care are two different things. In guardianship, the focus is on financial matters whereas informal care focuses on health and everyday routines.