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Civil claims

What a civil claim is, the time limits, and how to get advice, in plain English. Read it at your own pace. You don’t have to decide anything.

Before you read. This guide talks about abuse and the law in general terms, without describing any abuse in detail. You can stop at any time. If reading it brings things up for you, you can talk to someone.

Every fact on this page comes from the law itself (legislation.gov.uk), GOV.UK, mygov.scot or nidirect. We last checked it on 6 October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. It covers England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Looking for a quick answer? Read our common questions about civil claims.

What a civil claim is

A civil claim asks a court to order compensation for harm that someone caused you. It is separate from any criminal case, and separate from criminal injuries compensation.

Who a claim can be brought against, and what it would involve, depends on what happened. A solicitor can explain this for your situation.

Can I claim compensation for historical abuse?

Claims about abuse that happened some time ago, often in childhood, are sometimes called historical, historic or non-recent abuse claims. A civil claim is one route to compensation for historical abuse. Others are criminal injuries compensation and, for some people who were abused as children in care or in other institutions, redress schemes.

The time limits for a civil claim are different in England and Wales, in Scotland and in Northern Ireland.

Time limits in England and Wales

  • In England and Wales, a claim for a personal injury normally has to be started within 3 years of the injury, or within 3 years of your ‘date of knowledge’ if that is later. That is broadly when you first knew the injury was significant, that it was caused by what happened, and who was responsible.
  • If you were under 18 when you were harmed, the 3 years normally start on your 18th birthday.
  • A court can allow a claim to go ahead after the time limit if it considers it fair to do so, looking at all the circumstances, including how long the delay was and the reasons for it.

If you were sexually abused as a child

Since 29 June 2026, in England and Wales there is no time limit for a personal injury claim about sexual abuse that happened when you were under 18. This applies however long ago the abuse happened, but not to claims that were settled or decided by a court before that date.

Where a claim like this would otherwise have been out of time, the court must dismiss it if the person or organisation being sued shows that a fair hearing is not possible.

If you experienced other kinds of abuse as a child, a solicitor can explain how the time limits apply to you.

In Scotland

In Scotland, since 4 October 2017, there is no time limit for a personal injury claim about abuse that happened when you were under 18. ‘Abuse’ includes sexual, physical and emotional abuse, and neglect.

A Scottish court must not let such a claim go ahead if the person or organisation being sued shows that a fair hearing is not possible. For abuse before 4 October 2017, the court can also stop a claim if they show they would be ‘substantially prejudiced’ (seriously disadvantaged) and, after weighing your interest in the claim going ahead, the court decides it should not proceed.

If you brought a claim before 4 October 2017 that was dismissed because it was out of time, you may be able to bring it again. This can also apply if you settled it for no more than your legal expenses because you reasonably believed it would be dismissed for that reason.

Other personal injury claims in Scotland, including claims about abuse you experienced as an adult, normally have to be raised within 3 years of the injury, or of when you became aware of certain facts about it, if that is later. A court can allow a later claim if it considers it fair.

In Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has no special time limit rule for abuse in childhood. The normal personal injury rules apply:

  • A claim normally has to be started within 3 years of the injury, or within 3 years of your ‘date of knowledge’ if that is later. The date of knowledge works in the same way as in England and Wales.
  • If you were under 18 when you were harmed, the 3 years normally start on your 18th birthday.
  • A court can allow a claim to go ahead after the time limit if it considers it fair to do so.

A solicitor in Northern Ireland can explain how these rules apply to you.

Paying for a claim

In England and Wales, legal aid can cover civil claims about abuse that happened when you were a child or a vulnerable adult. It can also cover civil claims about a sexual offence, whatever your age at the time, and whether or not anyone was prosecuted. Whether you get it also depends on your circumstances, including your finances.

Check if you can get legal aid on GOV.UK 

Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own legal aid rules.

  • Scotland: a solicitor who does legal aid work applies for you. The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) decides, looking at your finances, whether there is a legal basis for your case, and whether it is reasonable to fund it. mygov.scot explains civil legal aid.
  • Northern Ireland: a solicitor applies for you. For most civil court cases, the Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland decides, and your finances are taken into account. nidirect explains legal aid.

In all three, legal aid may not cover every cost. You may have to pay something towards your case, or pay some of the cost back if you win compensation.

A solicitor can also explain other ways a claim could be paid for.

Getting advice

A solicitor can tell you whether you may have a claim, how the time limits apply to you, and what it would involve. It can help to ask whether they have experience of abuse claims. Our questions to ask a solicitor may help, and you can read about the people you might meet if you make a claim.

Each of the three Law Societies has a search for solicitors. Our Legal Directory also lists solicitors who act for survivors of abuse. You contact a firm directly, and we are never paid for a case.

You don’t have to do this alone

Thinking about a claim can bring up difficult memories. The organisations in our Support Directory offer support, whatever you decide to do.

Where this information comes from

Checked on 6 October 2026. The law can change, so a solicitor should always confirm how it applies to you.

When you’re ready, the organisations in our Support Directory are there to talk to, whatever you decide.

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