Child trust fund maturity and name changes

geemel79

So I’ve had three children, the eldest I had no issues with accessing his trust fund as his name has never changed. The younger two however took on my ex husbands name when we got married in 2017 they previously had their absent father name (eldest father has always been and continues to be a fantastic dad hence he kept his name from birth). The kids made the decision when I got married that they wanted to have the same name as me and my husband, they had started using my mums maiden name on things like Facebook etc to disassociate from their birth name and their dad. 

We had a naming ceremony on our wedding day too recognise this for them and changed their names with the schools, doctors and they started to use their names straight away. 

In 2018 I approached a solicitor to have an affidavit put in place to recognise the children’s name change as because they were not in contact with the absent parent and born in Scotland his permission was not a requirement. Since then the children have opened new bank accounts, had child benefit etc all awarded in new names, had passports and provisional licences issues in their new names and their national insurance numbers issued under their new names !! 

Trying to get their names changed on their trust funds to start the process of gaining access to their funds when they turn 18 a whole different process !! 

I thought when my son turned 18 it was hard sending in so many documents to prove his new surname. Back and forth with the CTF provider time and time again sending documents by post being told they weren’t good enough to them be told I have to go to the bank to have the documents certified in person till eventually it was done. 

So just over a month ago armed with all the documents for my daughter goes into the bank phones the CTF provider while I’m in the branch gets them to explain to the branch advisor exactly what they need to photocopy and certify. Guides us through what myself and daughter need to write as a statement declaring the name change and have both(myself and my daughter) of us sign and date in old and new names and the bank sends the information off internally. 

Phones today to chase them up on what’s happening to be told that documents were rejected over a month ago I’ve now to send them original documents in the post, no contact from them no letters letting us know this was rejected !! I’ve had to chase them up, they also haven’t sent out any letters to my daughter letting her know the fund is nearing maturity and what her plans are for the fund !! 

It seems that so many people are being passed from pillar to post and a lot of parents who have no idea how to access the funds for their children, this isn’t a one off or a new problem yet so many of the providers are continuing to misinform customers about the process. There seems to be a lot of ambiguity between providers and there also seems to be a massive difference in processes 

dunstonh

It seems that so many people are being passed from pillar to post and a lot of parents who have no idea how to access the funds for their children, this isn’t a one off or a new problem yet so many of the providers are continuing to misinform customers about the process.

It is a very unusual situation and the staff are not trained like they used to be as consumers are not willing to pay for quality and want cheap.  So, staff tend to be ok in their comfort zone but often just guess or fob you off if its something they don't know.

There seems to be a lot of ambiguity between providers and there also seems to be a massive difference in processes 

Training standards vary.

Typically, they are just looking for the legal evidence of the name change.    Most will want the original or a certified copy of the original written in the correct way (true copy of.... - that bit is so often missed by some certifying docs).