# Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs: ownership and transfers

> Banking · 5 July 2026 · Updated 12 September 2026

Canonical HTML: https://moneyguide.org.uk/news/junior-pension-transfers-july-2026/

## What we checked

AI-assisted source comparisons of the stated scope; not individual professional approval of the whole page.

Checked 2026-09-12: Child ownership of Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs, control from age 16, access from age 18, and provider-arranged transfers from a Child Trust Fund to a Junior ISA. The check covers these savings-account rules and the stated 2026/27 Junior ISA allowance; it does not cover pension transfers or other historical news articles.

- [GOV.UK Child Trust Funds](https://www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds)
- [GOV.UK Junior ISAs](https://www.gov.uk/junior-individual-savings-accounts)

Markdown mirror: https://moneyguide.org.uk/news/junior-pension-transfers-july-2026.md

## Summary

Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs are child-owned savings accounts. Check who controls the money, when it can be accessed and how a provider arranges a transfer.

Correction, 12 September 2026: an earlier version confused Child Trust Fund transfers with pension transfers and included unsupported statements about inherited junior workplace pensions. That guidance has been removed. The original publication date and URL are retained.

A Child Trust Fund is a tax-free savings account for eligible children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. The scheme closed to new accounts in 2011. The money belongs to the child: they can take control at 16 and access it at 18. See [GOV.UK Child Trust Funds](https://www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds).

A Junior ISA can hold cash or stocks and shares. Its contribution limit is £9,000 for 2026/27. A parent or guardian with parental responsibility can manage the account, but the money belongs to the child. The child can take control at 16; ordinary withdrawals are unavailable until 18. See [GOV.UK Junior ISAs](https://www.gov.uk/junior-individual-savings-accounts).

A child cannot hold a Child Trust Fund and a Junior ISA at the same time. For a transfer before 18, ask the receiving Junior ISA provider to arrange moving the Child Trust Fund. Compare the account's terms and charges before choosing a destination.

At 18, contact the existing provider to discuss access and the available account options. Do not assume the rules for a pension transfer apply to child savings. If the account details are missing, start with the [GOV.UK Child Trust Fund finder](https://www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds/find-a-child-trust-fund).

## Related topics

- [/savings/](https://moneyguide.org.uk/savings/)

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Independent UK money guidance from [Money Guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk). Information only — not regulated financial advice.