Guardianship Missing Person Act

The court will only appoint a Guardian where it is satisfied that doing so is in the missing person’s best interests.

A guardian can be any individual aged over 18 who has sufficient interest in the missing person’s affairs. The person must be considered suitable to act and must satisfy the court that they will act in the missing person’s best interests. Amongst other things, the court will have regard to:

• the proposed guardian’s relationship to the missing person
• their knowledge and skills
• the views the missing person has as to the proposed guardian (if these can be ascertained), and
• any potential conflict between the guardian’s interests and those of the missing person.

Under the Act, missing person’s personal representatives, spouse, civil partner, parent, child or sibling are all considered by virtue of their relationship with the missing person to have sufficient interest. Any other proposed guardian must satisfy the court as to their interest.

The court may appoint two or more guardians in respect of some or all of a missing person’s property and financial affairs. It can appoint them to act at the same time or at different times.

The court can appoint a guardian for someone who has been declared missing for 90 days. However, you can apply earlier if the matter is urgent, for example if the missing person’s house is being repossessed.

The court can only appoint a guardian to act for a period of up to 4 years, but this can be extended if necessary.

The court will vary the order appointing a Guardian to suit the missing person’s needs, but such powers can include the authority for the guardian to:

• access accounts with banks or building societies
• authorise mortgage and insurance payments
• sell or rent a property on behalf of the missing person
• make investments
• provide maintenance for dependents
• pay for any dependents of the missing person
• suspend direct debits to utility providers

Within 14 days of the application for a Guardian to be appointed being issued the applicant must notify the spouse or civil partner, child, parent and any siblings of the missing person of their application. An advertisement must also be placed in at least one public news media in the vicinity of the last known usual place of residence.

Yes. The missing persons’ spouse or civil partner, child, parent or sibling can “intervene” in the application. Any other person must obtain the court’s permission to intervene.