Litigation friends: manage a Court Funds Office account

The Court Funds Office holds money paid to a child to settle a court case until the child turns 18.

If you’re a litigation friend you’ll be responsible for the child’s Court Funds Office account until they turn 18, for example:

  • keeping contact details up to date
  • applying for any payments on the child’s behalf
  • receiving statements and tax records

Your responsibilities end when the child turns 18. The Court Funds Office will usually contact the child after their 18th birthday and tell them how to apply for their money.

Apply to the court that awarded the money to the child if you’re not happy with how a litigation friend is acting and want to get someone else appointed as a child’s litigation friend.

Update contact details

You must keep contact details up to date so the Court Funds Office can contact the child when they turn 18.

Tell the Court Funds Office if there’s a change to your or the child’s name or address.

If you’re reporting a change of address, you must include the old address and the new address.

If you’re reporting a name change, you must include:

Send a signed letter to the Court Funds Office with the details of the changes and include the court case number or account number.

Court Funds Office
Sunderland
SR43 3AB

Get statements and tax records

You’ll get annual statements and tax vouchers for tax returns in April or May every year.

You’ll get another statement in October or November if there’s £100,000 or more in the child’s account.

Email the Court Funds Office if you need a statement at any other time. You must include:

  • the court case number or account number
  • the name of the child

Court Funds Office
enquiries@cfo.gov.uk

Apply for payments

You cannot access the child’s account without an order from the court.

If there’s a reason the child needs money before turning 18, you must apply to the court that originally awarded the money.

Write to the court and explain what the money’s for and how it’ll benefit the child.

The court will tell you whether you need to:

  • provide evidence that the child will benefit
  • provide proof of exact costs
  • attend a hearing - the child may also need to attend
  • pay a fee

It will order the Court Funds Office to make a payment if your application is successful. You must give your bank account details to the court unless you ask to be paid by cheque.

Interest on accounts

Special accounts currently pay 4% interest. The rate is not fixed - it is set by the Lord Chancellor. You’ll be told if the rate changes.

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