How to find a lost Child Trust Fund

If you were born in the UK between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, a Child Trust Fund is likely to have been set up in your name, even if you have never heard of it. According to HMRC, as of 30 September 2025, 758,000 Child Trust Fund accounts have matured and remain unclaimed, often because the account holder doesn’t know it exists.

The value of the account will depend on a variety of factors including the government contribution, any additional contributions made over the years by friends or family, and the type of CTF account. Some accounts may hold a few hundred pounds, while others could be worth a lot more.

Why Child Trust Funds can be lost or difficult to claim

There are several reasons why a Child Trust Fund can be hard to track down, and some of them are more common than you might think.

The CTF details aren’t up to date

Most Child Trust Funds were opened when you were born or at a very young age. Over time, your details may have changed, such as your address or even your name.

If these updates weren’t recorded or kept up to date, providers may struggle to contact you when the account matures, which can make it harder to trace.  

In some cases, you may simply need to provide proof of any name or address changes to help match your details.

When providers change

Financial institutions can change over time too. Providers may join together, be taken over, or update their brand, sometimes without you realising. If the original provider now operates under a different name, it can make your CTF a little harder to track down.

If you believe your original provider has closed or can no longer be traced, do not be put off. HMRC's lookup tool should still be able to identify who is managing your CTF account, as your account would have been transferred rather than closed if a provider stopped operating.

The CTF account was opened automatically

Not all parents opened a Child Trust Fund themselves. In some cases, HMRC opened one automatically on the child’s behalf with an approved provider. However, if contact details weren’t accurate or kept up to date, the provider may have found it difficult to stay in touch with the family over the years.

For many young people, this is why discovering a Child Trust Fund later on can come as a surprise.

How to find your Child Trust Fund

If you're not sure which provider your Child Trust Fund is with, there are a couple of easy ways to track it down.

Use HMRC's free tools

The best way to track down a lost CTF is through HMRC's free online lookup tool. Here is how to use it:

• Visit GOV.UK and search for the Child Trust Fund lookup service at gov.uk/child-trust-funds/find-a-child-trust-fund.
• Follow the steps outlined in the online application. You will need your National Insurance number, which you should have received around your 16th birthday.
• HMRC will send you a letter by post, which you should receive within the next three weeks, with the details of your CTF provider. This may be the original provider, but a quick search of the current approved CTF providers should clarify if they were acquired by another provider at any point.
• Contact the provider directly to get your account details and start the process of accessing or managing your CTF.

The request should only take a few minutes to complete, and it’s completely free to use.

If you are a parent or guardian searching on behalf of a child, you will need:

• The child's full name, address, and date of birth.
• Any previous names you or the child have used.
• The child's National Insurance number, if you have it.

The Share Foundation

The Share Foundation offers support for children who have been in care and may face extra difficulties locating their CTF.  You can complete the online form available on The Share Foundation’s website, they’ll be able to offer more hands-on support than HMRC where needed.

Never pay to find your Child trust Fund

Some companies may offer to find your Child Trust Fund for a fee, which can reduce the amount you receive or mean you get nothing back at all.

Both the HMRC lookup tool and The Share Foundation are completely free to use, so there is no need to use a paid service at any stage.

What happens once you find your Child Trust Fund?

Once you have found your provider, the next steps will depend on your age.

If you are under 18 

From the age of 16, you can become the registered contact on the account. This means you can manage it yourself and, if you wish, transfer it to another provider or move it to a Junior ISA to benefit from different investment options or rates.

If you are under 16, a parent or guardian will need to manage the account on your behalf. In either case, you won’t be able to withdraw the funds until your 18th birthday.

If you have turned 18

Your provider will send a maturity letter with instructions on how to access your money when you turn 18. You will need to verify your identity and provide proof of address before you can decide what to do with the funds.

Once you have registered and verified your identity, you will have a few different options for what to do with your funds. You can withdraw the money, keep it invested, or transfer it to another savings account, such as a Stocks and Shares ISA* (capital at risk) or Lifetime ISA*. 

For a full breakdown of your options, take a look at our guide to accessing your Child Trust Fund at 18.

*Terms and Conditions apply

Managing your Child Trust Fund with Unity Mutual

If your Child Trust Fund is held with Unity Mutual, we are here to help. You can manage your account and access your funds through our CTF portal. If you're 16 or above, you can register yourself. Under 16, a parent or guardian will need to do this on your behalf.

If you have any questions about your account or need support at any stage of the process, get in touch with our team. We are always happy to help.