Child Sexual Abuse Claims: It May No Longer Be Too Late to Seek Compensation
From 29 June 2026, an important change in the law means that many survivors of childhood sexual abuse in England and Wales may now be able to pursue a civil compensation claim, even if the abuse happened many years ago.
Under the Crime and Policing Act 2026, the previous three-year limitation period for child sexual abuse claims has been removed. This means that, for many survivors, the passage of time may no longer prevent them from seeking compensation.
Every case is different, but if you have previously been told it was too late to bring a claim, or simply assumed too much time had passed, it is worth seeking specialist legal advice.
Speak to our specialist abuse claims team today for a free, confidential discussion about your circumstances.
Areas of expertise
Our team are experienced in a wide range of business issues which include:
- Church of England Redress Scheme
- Eastwood Park Scheme
- Scottish Redress Scheme
- CICA claims
- Social services negligence
- Foster care abuse claims
- School abuse claims
- Scouting abuse claims
- Church abuse claim
- Personal injury trust work
- Vulnerable adult or children abuse and neglect claims
- Domestic abuse claims
- Inquiry work
- Jesus Fellowship Scheme
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New Abuse Law: What Has Changed?
Previously, people bringing a civil claim for childhood sexual abuse generally had to start court proceedings within three years of their 18th birthday. Although the courts could exercise discretion in some cases, many survivors faced significant legal barriers because of the time that had passed.
From 29 June 2026, the law changes significantly.
For many survivors, these changes represent a significant opportunity to seek justice where they previously believed none existed.
The key changes include:
- The previous three-year limitation period for child sexual abuse claims has been removed.
- The law applies retrospectively, meaning many historical claims may now be possible.
- If a defendant argues that a fair trial is no longer possible because of the passage of time, the burden now falls on them to prove this.
Fill out the Contact Form or Call our expert team now to start your claim.
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Who May Be Able to Claim?
You may now be able to bring a claim if:
- You experienced sexual abuse as a child in England or Wales.
- You previously believed, or were advised, that too much time had passed to bring a claim.
- Your case has not already been finally settled or decided by a court.
- You are seeking compensation for psychiatric injury, counselling or therapy costs, financial losses, or other consequences arising from the abuse.
If you experienced sexual abuse as a child and thought it was too late to claim, the change in the law may mean you now have options.
If you would like to discuss your options, please don’t hesitate to contact our caring and specialist team who can talk to you about your rights in complete confidence.
