What you need to know
According to the existing guardian system, almost all guardians are children or relatives. The new system allows the elderly to choose their guardian when they are still sane. The candidates aren't limited to blood relatives and their rights and obligations are written in plain text, which may reduce family disputes and the burden of the society.
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Due to the super-aging society, the Ministry of Justice will amend the Civil Law, impelling a voluntary guardian system in order to let elderly people decide their future guardians, who don’t have to be blood relatives. To avoid illegal use of the new system, the Ministry of Justice will draft related regulations.
RTI reports, the Ministry of Justice preliminarily drafted eight additional articles of the voluntary guardian system. The eight articles will be included in the family section of the Civil Law. The voluntary guardianship contract is the agreement between persons involved and the assigned guardians. If the person involved loses the ability to take care of himself or herself, the assigned person will become his or her guardian.
Liberty Times reports, according to the existing guardian system, almost all guardians are children or relatives. The new system allows the elderly to choose their guardian when they are still sane. The candidates aren’t limited to blood relatives and their rights and obligations are written in plain text, which may reduce family disputes and the burden of the society.
Liberty Times reports, as for citizens choosing their own guardians, it may create moral risk or violate family ethics. Officials of the Ministry of Justice say the voluntary guardians will not be involved in inheritance rights and are only obligated to take care and manage living conditions, health and property.
Translated by Wen-yee Lee and Olivia Yang
Edited by Olivia Yang
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