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The Acquisition
of Scottish Arms through the
Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms.
Those who wish to
use arms in any personal sense must petition for a Grant of Arms
or if they can trace their ancestry back to a direct or, in some
cases collateral, ancestor - a "cadet matriculation" showing their
place within the family. When a grant, or matriculation, of arms
is successfully obtained, an illuminated parchment, narrating the
pedigree as proved, is supplied to the Petitioner, and a duplicate
is recorded in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in
Scotland and/or the Public Register of Genealogies and
Birthbrieves.
Application for
such a Confirmation, by Letters Patent or Matriculation, from the
Lord Lyon King of Arms is the only way to obtain a genuine coat of
arms.
British Commonwealth - Anyone
domiciled in His Majesty's realms overseas or in the Commonwealth
(except those of English, Welsh or Irish ancestry who should
approach Garter King of Arms in London or the Chief Herald of
Ireland in Dublin or Canadians who should approach the Chief
Herald of Canada in Ottawa) can apply to the Lord Lyon King of
Arms of Scotland for grant or matriculation of arms.
Foreign Countries - Arms are not
granted to non-British citizens (though those of Scottish ancestry
can apply to the Lord Lyon King of Arms for cadet-matriculations,
as above described) Moreover even if not of direct armigerous
descent, foreigners of Scottish descent can often arrange for a
cousin in Scotland, or in one of Her Majesty's overseas realms get
arms established by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, and thereafter
themselves to obtain a cadet matriculation. Each party is in such
cases is supplied with an illuminated parchment.
Applying for Arms -
Introduction |
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Lord Lyon King of Arms - Dr Joseph J. Morrow |
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On behalf of the Sovereign, the Lord Lyon King of Arms exercises the
Royal Prerogative committed to him by the Acts of 1672 cap. 47 and
1867 30 & 31 Vict. cap. 17, to grant Arms to .virtuous and well
deserving persons". The Court of the Lord Lyon is a court of law, and
applications for Arms are made by a formal "Petition". This is done on
the initiative of the person wishing to obtain Arms, who submits a
Petition to the Lord Lyon stating who he is and asking for Arms to be
granted to him.
The process is not complicated, and there are four main varieties of
Petition:
Petition for a new Grant of Arms
Petition for a Grant of Arms to an Ancestor
Petition for a Matriculation of Arms
Petition for a Grant of Arms to a Company
For further Information on how to obtain a coat of arms, samples of
the above paperwork required, and the fees
involved please visit
Applying for a Coat of Arms on The Lyon Court Website.
Advice on any special difficulties or any matters not covered can be
obtained by writing to the Lyon Clerk at the Court of the Lord Lyon,
H.M. New Register House, Edinburgh, EH1 3YT, and to whom all completed
Petitions should be sent. All such correspondence is 'CONFIDENTIAL:.
Once Arms have been granted and recorded in the Public Register of All
Arms and Bearings in Scotland, they are protected under the law of
Scotland. Any infringement of a person's armorial rights in Scotland
may be drawn to the attention of the Procurator Fiscal to the Court of
the Lord Lyon, who may mount any necessary prosecution of the
offender.
In return for this permanent legal protection and for the maintenance
of the permanent registration of Arms in the Court of the Lord Lyon,
Fees are charged to the Petitioner. These fees are made up of the dues
to H.M. Treasury, Herald Painter's fees and costs of materials in
preparing the Petitioner's Letters Patent. This is his title deed to
his Arms, written in a formal script on vellum, illustrating his Arms
in full colour, and sealed with the Seal of the Lord Lyon King of
Arms. The fees are fixed by Statute, and rise from time to time.
All statements made in Petitions must be accompanied by legal proof,
usually Certificates of Birth and Marriage for statements of parentage
and ancestry. It is the Petitioner's responsibility to provide this
proof. Neither the Lord Lyon nor the Lyon Clerk may take any part in
providing the proof. Petitioners may employ their own genealogists to
provide the proof. They may employ any of them directly, at their own
responsibility, or with the assistance of an Officer of Arms.
Petitioners requiring assistance in preparing the Petition may write
to the Lyon Clerk at the Court of the Lord Lyon stating their
requirements and objectives. If an Officer of Arms is engaged he will
provide an advance estimate of his fees for his professional
assistance. If required by the Petitioner he will take charge of any
genealogical research needed, employing the researchers and
supervising their work on behalf of the Petitioner, and will
periodically report on its progress as the Petitioner may require.
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