Transfer a Child Trust Fund

Transfer a Child Trust Fund to an AJ Bell ISA

If your child has turned 18 and outgrown their trust fund, they may want to consider one of our adult ISAs. If you're looking for more control over how it's invested, you could consider transferring into an AJ Bell Junior ISA.
  • Tax-free investing
    Any growth to an ISA account is free from capital gains tax and income tax.
  • Up to £20,000 annual personal allowance
    Invest up to £20,000 per tax year in an adult Stocks and shares ISA, and up to £9,000 in a Junior account. You can choose to have one ISA or spread your allowance across multiple accounts.
  • Low charges
    Our ISA accounts offer some of the best value around, with an annual account charge of just 0.25% and dealing charges starting from as low as £1.50.
  • Wide range of investment options
    Choose from over 2,000 investment funds, shares in thousands of the world’s largest companies, plus index-tracking exchange traded funds, bonds, gilts, and more.

What do you need to do?

Choose an account

It takes just 10 minutes to open a new AJ Bell ISA account. You’ll need your details, and if opening a Junior ISA, your child’s details.

Start a transfer

Once the new account is open, select Child Trust Fund from our list of transfer options.

Close the Child Trust Fund

After the transfer is complete, the trust fund will need to be closed by the account trustee.

Which AJ Bell ISA is right for you?

Stocks and shares ISA 

Our most popular adult ISA account, offering the greatest flexibility and investment limits.

Key benefits:  

  • Invest up to £20,000 per tax year
  • Easy withdrawals
  • Invest across funds, shares, ETFs, trusts, and more
  • You can hold multiple Stocks and shares ISAs
  • Transfer from another provider without affecting your allowance 

Eligibility:

  • Aged 18+

Lifetime ISA

Our ISA for first-time buyers or those saving for retirement.

Key benefits:  

  • Invest up to £4,000 per tax year
  • Get a 25% bonus every year, up to £1,000
  • Tax-free withdrawal for first-time buyers
  • Tax-free withdrawal for retirement, accessible from 60
  • Receive an annual bonus up until you’re 50  

Eligibility:

  • Aged 18-39 to open an account 

Junior ISA

The ISA account for the little one in your life.

Key benefits:  

  • Invest up to £9,000 per tax year  
  • Money safely locked away until the child is 18 years old
  • Can be opened by parents or guardians  
  • Anyone can pay into it
  • Convert to an adult ISA when the child turns 18  

Eligibility:

  • Aged under 18

Things to consider when transferring a Child Trust Fund

Laura Suter

Laura Suter
Director of Personal Finance

When moving over a Child Trust Fund to either an adult or junior ISA account, it’s important to understand the transfer process and account types available.
  • Child Trust Funds closed to new customers in 2011, but you can still transfer the account into an ISA, giving you greater flexibility in how it’s invested and potentially lower costs.
  • If your child is under 18, you can open a Junior Stocks and shares ISA and transfer a Child Trust Fund into it, but you’ll need to transfer the entire Child Trust Fund over.
  • The transfer won’t count towards your child’s £9,000 Junior ISA annual allowance.
  • Until they are 18, you’ll be responsible for managing the investments in the Junior ISA.
  • Once your child is 18, the Child Trust Fund will mature and they can transfer it into an adult Stocks and shares ISA. It won’t count towards their £20,000 annual limit.
  • You can also transfer a matured Child Trust Fund into a Lifetime ISA, but it will count towards the account’s annual allowance of £4,000. If your Child Trust Fund is worth more than this, you can split it between a Lifetime ISA and a Stocks and shares ISA.

We're here to help you invest

We’ve been helping our customers put their money to work for over 30 years. And with over 762,000 customers, that’s a lot of people taking control of their financial futures. 

We’re not just one of the UK’s largest and best regarded investment platforms, we’re listed on the FTSE 250, we’re regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), oh, and we’re the only investment provider to be Which? Recommended eight years running, 2019-2026. 

So, when you're ready to feel good, investing, we're here to help.
Which? award winners 8 years running, 2019-2026