Court of the Lord Lyon

The Court of the Lord Lyon is the court of law which is the main body in regards to regulation of Scottish genealogies and coats of arms etc.

Understandably, every clan in Scotland would want to protect their symbols and heritages and other forms of heraldry, it is for this purpose that the Court of the Lord Lyon was established.

The Court of the Lord Lyon is integrated fully into the Scottish government, this contrast with its English equivalent, the College of Arms. This means that the Court of the Lord Lyon is written into Scottish law and its decisions and rulings are legally binding. From the perspective of the government, this is a bonus as it means that the fines and fees issued by the Court of the Lord Lyon are paid into the treasury. For clansmen this means that the Court of the Lord Lyon should be more effective and active than the English counterpart, who’s Court of chivalry has only met once in the last 300 years.

As the name would imply, the Court of the Lord Lyon is headed by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. Although the Lord Lyon is technically the most junior of the Scottish officers of state, they are still a highly qualified person. Since the Court of the Lord Lyon is allowed to issue fines and settle heraldic legal disputes the Lord Lyon is required to be qualified to judge upon these matters.

The Court of the Lord Lyon is also charged with keeping and maintaining the “Public register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland”. Created in 1672, by an Act of the Scottish parliament, the Public Register is a record of all grants of arms since its inception. Being a public register, it is possible for anyone to see this record.