Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs: ownership and transfers
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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.
By Money Guide editorial team
Updated:
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.
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.
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.