Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT)

Overview

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:
- personal directives
- enduring powers of attorney
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