Serving abuse survivors across PA, NJ, NY, and MD in complete confidentiality. If you have a claim in the Boy Scouts of America Scouting Settlement Trust and you are unhappy with your current attorney or the settlement being proposed for your claim, please know this: you can change lawyers without giving up your claim. Before you sign anything, call (610) 255-7500 in complete confidence.

Case status (updated August 2026): The Boy Scouts settlement is now final. In January 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the last appeal, and the roughly $2.46 billion Scouting Settlement Trust is actively reviewing claims and paying survivors. Because the money is real and being distributed, accidentally withdrawing a claim is a permanent, irreversible loss — which is exactly why the distinction below matters.

Key Takeaways

• Firing your lawyer is not the same as withdrawing your claim. You do not have to give up your claim in order to change attorneys.
• A “Withdrawal of Claim” form (sometimes color-coded, such as a “Lavender Form”) permanently removes your claim from the Trust. By its own terms it is irrevocable, forfeits any right to recovery, and cannot be refiled.
• If you disagree with a settlement offer, the remedy is inside the Trust process — declining, reconsideration, or individualized review — not withdrawing your claim.
• You may retain new counsel or continue on your own (pro se); either way, your claim stays alive.
• The Trust’s awards are tiered and can range from roughly $3,500 to $2.7 million+ — a claim signed away is compensation lost forever.

Changing Attorneys and Withdrawing Your Claim Are Two Different Things

Survivors sometimes become frustrated with how their claim is being handled — or with the amount a firm says they should accept — and decide they want a different lawyer. That is entirely your right. But it is critical to understand that ending a law firm’s representation and withdrawing your abuse claim from the Scouting Settlement Trust are completely separate actions. Changing lawyers does not require you to touch your claim at all. Your claim remains valid and pending no matter who represents you, or whether you choose to represent yourself.

What a “Withdrawal of Claim” Form Actually Does

The Trust has a specific form used to permanently withdraw an abuse claim. It is not a form for switching attorneys, and it is not a routine housekeeping document. By signing a Withdrawal of Claim form, a survivor typically acknowledges that he or she: no longer wishes to pursue the claim and will not pursue further action against the Trust; understands the withdrawal is irrevocable; is forever giving up any right to recovery from the Trust; and will not be permitted to refile the claim. In plain terms, signing that form ends your claim and any compensation — and it cannot be undone.

A Cautionary Example

Consider a survivor who was unhappy with the settlement being proposed for his claim and decided to part ways with the firm handling it. Rather than being told he could simply move his claim to new counsel, he was sent a Withdrawal of Claim form to sign — a document that, had he signed and returned it, would have permanently ended his claim and erased his right to any recovery. He had never intended to abandon his claim; he only wanted a different advocate. Fortunately, he asked questions before signing. Many survivors, understandably overwhelmed, might not — which is exactly why understanding this distinction matters so much.

If You Disagree With Your Settlement Offer, You Have Options

Disagreeing with a proposed amount is not a reason to walk away from your claim. Depending on where your claim stands in the process, options generally handled within the Trust Distribution Procedures include declining the offer, requesting reconsideration, or pursuing an individualized or independent review of your claim’s value. The Trust evaluates claims using a tiered framework that weighs the nature and severity of the abuse and the supporting evidence, and experienced counsel can help you understand whether an offer reflects the full value of your claim before you accept or reject it.

How to Change Lawyers the Right Way

If you want a new advocate, you generally have two paths, and both preserve your claim:

• Retain new counsel. Your new attorney can step in as your representative with the Trust. Any fee arrangement with your prior firm is ordinarily sorted out between the law firms and does not require you to sacrifice your claim.
• Proceed on your own (pro se). You may continue your claim yourself and notify the Trust that you are doing so. This is permitted, though the process can be complex, and many survivors prefer to have a skilled advocate.

Whichever path you choose: do not sign a Withdrawal of Claim form, keep copies of everything you receive (including envelopes), and watch closely for any deadlines stated in Trust correspondence or in a settlement offer so that none slip past you.

Why Skilled Representation Matters in the Scouting Settlement Trust

The difference between a rushed, under-documented claim and a carefully built one can be substantial. Skilled counsel familiar with the Boy Scouts litigation understands how the Trust values claims, how to assemble the documentation and sworn statements that support a higher tier, which review options fit a given claim, and — just as importantly — how to keep a survivor from making an irreversible mistake like signing away a claim. If you feel your current representation is not serving you, the answer is a better advocate, not the end of your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to withdraw my claim to switch attorneys?

No. Changing lawyers and withdrawing your claim are separate actions. Your claim stays valid and pending regardless of who represents you. You never need to withdraw a claim simply to change firms.

What happens if I sign a “Withdrawal of Claim” (Lavender) form?

Signing it typically means you permanently withdraw your abuse claim from the Trust. It is generally irrevocable, forfeits any right to recovery, and cannot be refiled. It should never be signed as a way to change attorneys.

Can I represent myself in the Scouting Settlement Trust?

Yes, you may proceed pro se and continue your claim on your own. The process can be detailed and demanding, however, so many survivors choose to work with counsel experienced in these claims.

My settlement offer seems too low. What can I do?

Disagreeing with an offer is addressed within the Trust process — for example by declining it, requesting reconsideration, or pursuing an individualized or independent review — not by withdrawing your claim. Experienced counsel can help you evaluate the offer.

Will changing lawyers cost me money or delay my claim?

Fee questions with a prior firm are ordinarily resolved between the law firms, not by reducing or forfeiting your recovery. Moving to new counsel does not require abandoning your claim.

Talk to a Boy Scouts Survivors’ Trust Attorney — Confidential

If you are a sexual abuse survivor with a claim in the Boy Scouts Scouting Settlement Trust and you are unsure about a form you have been asked to sign, or unhappy with your representation, speak with someone before you act. Siddons Law Firm reviews BSA abuse claims for survivors in PA, NJ, NY, and MD in complete confidence. Call (610) 255-7500.

Attorney Advertising. This article is general information about the Boy Scouts of America Scouting Settlement Trust claims process and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every claim is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. If you have questions about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.