Source: https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/Policy/Country-comparisons/2010-Legal-capacity-and-proxy-decision-making/Finland
Timestamp: 2020-07-02 08:16:16
Document Index: 510407764

Matched Legal Cases: ['§40', '§38', '§39', '§42', '§43', '§29', '§25']

Finland - 2010: Legal capacity and proxy decision making - Country comparisons - Policy - Alzheimer Europe
No one can be declared legally incompetent if appointment of a guardian would be sufficient to protect his/her interests. If it is decided to restrict a person's competence to act, the degree of restriction must not exceed that which is necessary to protect the person's interests. If the court does restrict a person's competence to act, it must at the same time appoint a guardian for the person in question.
Once declared legally incompetent, the person no longer has the right to manage his/her own assets, enter into contract or other legal acts, or decide on personal issues for which s/he does not understand the meaning. S/he can carry out legal acts which are considered normal in view of the circumstances and insignificant in terms of importance.
The guardian must assume the administration of the property (e.g. take the property under his/her administration) to the extent necessary in order to protect the client’s interests. Where required in this respect the guardian is entitled to receive police assistance as set out in §40 of the Police Act (493/1995). If the issue concerns assets over which the client may freely determine, the guardian may not take care of the property against the wishes of the client.
§38: The client must have access to sufficient assets for his or her personal needs. The client must also have set aside a reasonable amount of available funds, taking into account his or her needs and other circumstances. The guardian may leave other assets in the client’s ownership, if this is in the interests of the client. The guardian must assist the client, should s/he wish to make a moderate gift, which is appropriate in view of the circumstances.
§39: The guardian must preserve assets which the client, during the duration of the guardianship or later, requires for living or for earning a living or which are otherwise of particular value to the client.
Other property which is not required to support the client or to meet other needs of the client must be invested in such a way that there is sufficient certainty that it will be preserved and that a reasonable profit can be attained. If the client so requests, the guardian must explain to him/her the financial situation and the steps which have been taken to manage any assets.
According to §42, the guardian must take the necessary measures to ensure that the client receives the treatment, care and rehabilitation that is appropriate to his/her needs. The circumstances and the wishes of the client should be taken into account when making decisions.
Furthermore, before making a decision which is of importance to the client, the guardian must ask the client’s opinion on that matter, provided that this can be done without considerable inconvenience and that the client is incapable of understanding the meaning of the issue (§43).
The court can also authorize the guardian to represent his or her client on matters related to the client’s person e.g. for treatment decisions, if the client lacks the capacity to understand such issues (§29.2).
Once married, the marriage cannot be declared invalid. However, if it is clear that the relationship is over and that the spouse is merely using the marriage in order to financially abuse the incapacitated spouse, the guardian of the latter is entitled to file for a divorce on behalf of his/her client.
A legal act which the guardian was not competent to carry out, is not binding upon the client (the person for whom s/he is guardian). A legal act which the guardian has carried out without the required permission is not binding upon the client unless the guardianship authority (from which permission should have been requested) subsequently approves the legal act on the application of the guardian.
If a legal act carried out by the guardian is not binding, the guardian’s obligation to compensate the contracting party for injury or damage caused is applicable as set out in §25 of the Act on Legal Acts under the Law of Property (228/1929).
Contractual capacity of people not under guardianship (whose capacity has not been restricted)