Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT)
The OPGT provides services, tools and support for personal and financial matters to vulnerable Albertans and their families.
Overview
The OPGT is not involved in physical care. We can’t help you with rides to the doctor, home care or complaints about other agencies.
The OPGT works mostly with adults, but we also help manage funds for minors in special situations.
The OPGT:
- can become the legal guardian or trustee – that is, public guardian or public trustee – of an adult who lacks the capacity to make decisions and no one else can help
- helps people who receive Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) manage their benefits - this is voluntary and for people who want help managing AISH benefits they already receive
- helps people who receive Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits (CPP-D) manage their benefits - a voluntary program, which if you join, you can cancel at any time
- protects the assets of minors where required by law or where a minor is beneficiary but there's no trustee named
- teaches about planning for the future in case of lost capacity due to injury or illness. There are tools available such as:
- helps families understand ways to manage another’s affairs with support from our office. This includes
- registers your international will, if you have or need one
- assists with burials and administers estates when someone has died and there’s no one else to do so
- investigates complaints people have about decisions made by court-appointed guardians and trustees, or agents appointed under a personal directive
Videos
Publications
Annual report – Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
Business plan – Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
Decision-making options: Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act