The Heraldic Will and Heir

By Baroness Ragnailt Inghean Mhaoil Sheachlainn

The owner of any item registered with the SCA College of Arms may execute a heraldic will - a document that specifically transfers control of registered items to another individual of their choosing, a "heraldic heir", of sorts, or makes other provisions for the disposition of registered items upon the owner's death.

A heraldic will must bear both the Society name and legal name of the owner, and a description of the items being transferred in the heraldic will, and must be signed with the legal name of the owner of the heraldry. It must also identify the legal and ( if appropriate) Society name of the heraldic heir, the person who is authorized to accept the transfer of the heraldic items. You can name a specific individual or an office, such as the Principal Herald of Caid, as the recipient of your arms as your heraldic heir upon your death...and your registered armory or registered name doesn't have to pass to one single recipient! You may allocate each item to a different recipient if you desire!

You may file a heraldic will during your lifetime by submitting a heraldic will form to the College of Arms, or simply by providing an original or a certified copy of that heraldic form, your heraldic will to your "heraldic heir" who will include that with their request to transfer the heraldic items you've willed to them officially.

What happens if you change your mind about your heraldic heir? If your heraldic will is registered with the Laurel Sovereign of Arms prior to your death, it may be altered at any point up to your own death simply by executing a new heraldic will. ( Sorry, a post-death Ouija board session probably won't be acceptable 🙂 )

When the grim reaper does, indeed, come to call, your designated heir may ask for a transfer of the items willed to them. This is accomplished by a submission which is handled just like any other heraldic transfer, with a note of the existence of the heraldic will, and the death of the prior owner. A "heraldic heir" must also establish their own entitlement to use any restricted or reserved element, such as an augmentation, contained in any item transferred. If the "heir" is unable to use any restricted elements, an "unaugmented" device may be transferred separately, so that the heir can still accept the heraldic device in question.

If a heraldic will is registered with the Laurel Sovereign, a designated "Heraldic heir" may then register a cadenced version of the armory to be passed down without a letter of permission to conflict. If the original owner of the heraldry decides to change their heraldic will, the new heir may also register a cadenced version as well, but they may be required to obtain permission to conflict from the former designated heir, just as would need to be done with any person with conflicting armory.

if you are a "heraldic heir" to more than one person's devices, you may display those devices as "quartered" and differenced - you just can't register that display.

And what happens to your Heraldic Items if you don't have a heraldic will in place? The Executor of your real life will, or your designated Personal Representive, or your residual property heirs as appointed by the laws of the state, province or country of your death inherit the right to give permission to conflict, release or transfer the items as they see fit. Establishing your own Heraldic Will, should you wish to do so, is as easy as filling out a few forms. and ensures that your Registered Name and Arms will be direc! If you have questions, would like more information on this subject, or would like to execute your own heraldic will, see one of our wonderful Caidan heralds to get started!

A very special thank you to our Dolphin Herald, Séamus mac Néill Uí Chonchobhair, and Lady Alienor Strongbow de Clare for inspiring this article, and their invaluable assistance in researching this article.

For more information about Heraldic Wills, or other important heraldic matters, you can check out the Administrative Handbook of the College of Arms of the SCA at: https://heraldry.sca.org/admin.html