Office of the Public Guardian & Trustee
Our vision is a society where the interests of vulnerable people are protected.
The Public Guardian and Trustee may:
- protects the property rights of children under the age of eighteen;
- administers the property and finances of adults who are incapable of managing their financial affairs, monitors other property guardians and investigates allegations of financial abuse;
- administers the estates of deceased persons; and
- holds and administers unclaimed property.
Protecting Children's Interests
The Public Guardian and Trustee may:
- monitor the actions of executors and trustees managing property for children;
- manage children’s interests in estates, lotteries and insurance policies;
- approve settlements for personal injuries and claims for loss upon the death of a parent and manage the proceeds;
- approve legal fees for these settlements; and
- deal with real estate owned by a child.
The Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee is not involved in custody or guardianship issues.
The Public Guardian and Trustee as Administrator of an Estate
The Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) is the Official Administrator for the Province of Saskatchewan.
The PGT is the administrator of last resort and can act as administrator of an estate where there is no next of kin, or the next of kin are unable to act. It is always preferable when the family administers an estate.
Generally the PGT will not administer estates where there is a family member who is able to do so or the value of the estate is less than $25,000.
As administrator the PGT will:
determine the beneficiaries of the estate;
locate, secure, insure, transfer or sell assets of the estate;
determine and pay the estate debts;
finalize the estate income tax; and
after the estate income tax is finalized and the estate debts are paid, distribute the balance of assets or estate funds to beneficiaries.
The fees charged by the PGT as official administrator are according to The Administration of Estates Regulations.
