Manage a missing person's finances and property
When you’re appointed as a guardian
The guardianship order will tell you when you can start to make decisions for the person and what kinds of decision you can make.
The order will also say how long you are guardian for.
Contact the High Court if there are mistakes on the order.
You’ll need apply again to make a decision on anything that’s not covered by the order.
Let people know you’re a guardian
The court might give you the right to find out where the person has bank or building society accounts, if you do not know already. You’ll need to write to banks and building societies to find out.
If the order mentions people or organisations, tell them that you’re the guardian.
Some examples are:
- Department for Work and Pensions
- banks or building societies
- life assurance companies
- the payer of any private pensions
- the solicitor who holds the person’s will or property deeds
- utility providers
- the company where the person has a mortgage
Send:
- the guardianship order
- proof of your name and address
- proof of the name and address of the person you are guardian for
Proof of name and address could be a driving licence or utility bill. Check with the organisation:
- what proof of name and address they accept
- whether they’ll accept a photocopy of the guardianship order or only the original
Ask organisations to return your guardianship order when you send it out or you may run out of copies.
Pay bills and cancel payments
Once you have access to the person’s accounts and know where their income comes from and their assets, you can make a full list of what’s in their estate so you know what you’re responsible for. If the guardianship order gives you permission, pay any outstanding bills and cancel any payments if they no longer apply.