Trusteeship review

Apply for a trusteeship review if you need to make changes to your court order or if the court sets a review deadline.

When submitting a court application for guardianship, trusteeship or co-decision-making, provide the email and phone number for all parties notified about your application.

When to review

You can apply for a trusteeship review at any time.

A trusteeship review must happen when:

  • it is required by the court order
  • there is a change in the capacity of the adult
  • there is a change in the capacity of a decision-maker that affects the decision-maker’s ability to make decisions

If the court also expects you to do an examination and approval of accounts, it will say so on the court order.

An adult guardianship review and trusteeship review can be done at the same time.

Court-ordered review

If the court expects you to do a review, it:

  • will say so on the court order
  • will list a deadline for review
  • is important you complete the review before the deadline
  • may include an examination and approval of accounts

Missing the deadline

If you miss your deadline, you continue as trustee but it is required by law for you to complete this review.

How long does it take

A trusteeship review usually takes 6 months – from the time your paperwork is ready to be submitted to court – before the court makes a decision.

Cost

There are costs for different parts of this process:

  • legal fees – if you hire a lawyer to complete the application
  • capacity assessment – charged by the capacity assessor for the completion of the assessment
  • court filing fees – up to $50 for the court to process your documentation
  • background check fee – for the background check to be completed so the summary of the results can be provided to the court with the application

If the costs of an AGTA court application are a hardship for the applicant and adult, the applicant can apply to have some of the costs covered by the Government of Alberta.

  • If financial hardship has been indicated on the AGTA application, a Hardship Application for Costs Against the Crown form will be sent to the applicant to fill out.
  • Complete the Hardship Application for Costs Against the Crown form and submit it with supporting documentation.

Apply to review a trusteeship order

To apply for a review of the court order – and to ensure you follow the correct process and complete the correct paperwork – you need to think about 3 things:

  1. You should consider: 
    • the reasons you are applying for a review
    • if the decisions the adult needs assistance with have changed
    • if a guardianship review is also required

2. You need to decide to apply without a hearing (desk application) or with a hearing:

Without a hearing (desk application) With a hearing
  • if you do not expect anyone to disagree with the application
  • not time sensitive
  • you do not need to appear in court
  • the judge makes a decision based on the paperwork you submit
  • someone might disagree with the application
  • time sensitive
  • you or your lawyer appears in court
  • the application is discussed with the judge
  • the judge makes a decision based on the paperwork you submit and the discussion in court
  1. You need to decide to apply for one of these options:
  • Trusteeship review – desk application
  • Trusteeship and guardianship review – desk application
  • Trusteeship review – with a hearing
  • Trusteeship and guardianship review– with a hearing

Fillable PDF forms may not open properly on some mobile devices and web browsers. See the step-by-step guide or contact PDF form technical support.

To start the application process

Select the one option below that best meets the adult’s situation:

When a court order is granted

The newly appointed trustee is legally responsible to provide a copy of the court order to:

  • the adult
  • other interested parties
  • the OPGT

Read the court order carefully to learn:

  • who has been appointed
  • what authority has been granted
  • when the order needs to be reviewed
  • the date for examination and approval of trusteeship accounts
  • any other provisions

Contact

Find an OPGT office near you