Guardian of an adult
A guardian may be appointed to a person who cannot take care of their affairs themselves and look after their own interests because of their great age or a serious medical condition. Guardianship is always the means of last resort and used only if the affairs cannot be taken care of appropriately by other means.
The person who requires a guardian or a person close to them can submit an application for appointing a guardian to a district court or the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. In addition, a person close to the person or a social welfare authority, for example, can submit a notification to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency that the person requires a guardian.
The child, parent or other person close to the person requiring a guardian can serve as the guardian. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency and district courts can also appoint a public guardian for a person requiring a guardian. A public guardian is usually an official of a guardianship office.
You can also prepare for the event that you become unable to manage your affairs by drawing up a continuing power of attorney. In the power of attorney, you can determine who can be appointed as your guardian if one is needed.
More information about guardianship
In Åland, the authority responsible for matters related to guardianship is the State Department of Åland.