SCA COA Site Update | SCA College of Arms – Frequently Asked Questions

SCA College of Arms – Frequently Asked Questions

This page is a list of common questions regarding heraldry and heraldic practices in the SCA. The articles here should be of interest to submitters as well as heralds of all levels in the SCA.

General Questions

Why does it take 5 to 9 months to register names and heraldry in the SCA?
What do I do if I think my submission was incorrectly returned?
Frequently Given Answers (That Are Wrong)
common misconceptions about SCA Heraldry

Submissions Forms Questions

Letters Questions

These documents are based on the suggested standard form letters found in the Administrative Handbook. Please fill them in as is or edit them as needed for your situation. You will need to send in hand-signed paper versions of the documents you use – the text of an email alone is not enough.

Someone wants to register a name that would conflict with mine because it’s too similar. I am willing to let them register their name. How do I let them do that?
You can write them a Letter of Permission to Conflict with Name.
Template letters: [DOC] [PDF]
Someone wants to register a name that would conflict with mine because it makes an unmistakable claim that they’re related to me. I am willing to let them register their name. How do I let them do that?
You can write them a Letter of Permission to Claim Relationship.
Template letters: [DOC] [PDF]
Someone wants to register a device or badge that would conflict with mine because it’s too similar. I am willing to let them register their armory. How do I let them do that?
You can write them a Letter of Permission to Conflict with Armory.
Template letters: [DOC] [PDF]
I don’t care if anybody else registers a name that would conflict with mine because it’s too similar. How can I let anyone register a name like that without having to ask me for permission each time?
You can write a Blanket Letter of Permission to Conflict with Name
Template letters: [DOC] [PDF]
I don’t mind if anyone else’s name appears to claim a relationship with me. How can I let anyone register a name like that without having to ask me for permission each time?
You’ll need to write a Letter of Blanket Permission to Claim Relationship.
Template letters: [DOC] [PDF]
I don’t care if people register devices or badges that would conflict with mine because it’s too similar. How can I let anyone register a device or badge like that without having to ask me for permission each time?
You can write a Blanket Letter of Permission to Conflict with Armory.
Template letters: [DOC] [PDF]

How do I document that someone is related to me for the purposes of the Existing Registration Allowance?
One way is to include a copy of the legal document that shows the relationship (marriage license, birth certificate, etc.). Another common way is to write a Letter of Attesting to Legal Relationship.
Template letters: [DOC] [PDF]
How do I document my minor child’s legal name for the purposes of the Legal Name Allowance?
One way is to include a copy of the legal document that shows the child’s name, such as a birth certificate. Another common way is to write a Letter of Attesting to Legal Relationship.
Template letters: [DOC] [PDF]

How do I transfer a name, device, or badge to someone else?
You’ll need to write a Letter of Transfer (and the other person write a Letter of Acceptance of Transfer, below).
Template letters: [DOC] [PDF]
How do I accept a transfer of a name, device, or badge from someone else?
You’ll need to write a Letter of Acceptance of Transfer (and the other person write a Letter of Transfer, above).
Template letters: [DOC] [PDF]
Heraldic Wills are documents that tell Laurel what to do with your items after you pass away. Like a regular will, there are many options. Here are templates for some of the most common. If you want to do something not covered by these templates, please contact your Principal Herald for assistance in drafting an acceptable Heraldic Will.
- Transfer all items to a single person: [DOC] [PDF]
- Transfer specific items to a single person: [DOC] [PDF]
- Transfer specific items to different people: [DOC] [PDF]
- Release all items: [DOC] [PDF]
- Release specific items: [DOC] [PDF]
- Transfer specific items to different people and release other specific items: [DOC] [PDF]
My branch wants to register a name and arms. How do we demonstrate support from the branch for these registrations?
You’ll want to have a Petition for Registration of Group Name and/or Device.
Template letters: [DOC] [PDF]

Maintained by Codex Herald. This page was last updated on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.
The heraldry.sca.org site is copyright 1995-2024 Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. The copyright of certain portions of heraldry.sca.org are retained by the original contributors as noted.
External links are not part of the heraldry.sca.org web site. Inclusion of a page or site here is neither implicit nor explicit endorsement of the site. Further, SCA, Inc. is not responsible for content outside of heraldry.sca.org. For information on how SCA uses collected and submitted data, please see the Privacy Policy.
Paper texture used with permission from GRSites.com.

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SCA College of Arms – Frequently Asked Questions
This page is a list of common questions regarding heraldry and heraldic practices in the SCA. The articles here should be of interest to submitters as well as heralds of all levels in the SCA. General Questions Why does it take 5 to 9 months to register names and heraldry in the SCA? What do I do if I think my submission was incorrectly returned? Frequently Given Answers (That Are Wrong) common misconceptions about SCA Heraldry Submissions Forms Questions Where can I find submission forms? How do I fill out the form for my name or household? How do I fill out the form for a branch name, order name, or guild name? How do I fill out the form for a device/arms or a badge? How do I write a petition for a branch name or arms? My submission was returned for a non-standard or outdated form. What happened? Letters Questions These documents are based on the suggested standard form letters found in the Administrative Handbook. Please fill them in as is or edit them as needed for your situation. You will need to send in hand-signed paper versions of the documents you use – the text of an email alone is not enough. Someone wants to register a name that would conflict with mine because it’s too similar. I am willing to let them register their name. How do I let them do that? You can write them a Letter of Permission to Conflict with Name. Template letters: [DOC] [PDF] Someone wants to register a name that would conflict with mine because it makes an unmistakable claim that they’re related to me. I am willing to let them register their name. How do I let them do that? You can write them a Letter of Permission to Claim Relationship. Template letters: [DOC] [PDF] Someone wants to register a device or badge that would conflict with mine because it’s too similar. I am willing to let them register their armory. How do I let them do that? You can write them a Letter of Permission to Conflict with Armory. Template letters: [DOC] [PDF] I don’t care if anybody else registers a name that would conflict with mine because it’s too similar. How can I let anyone register a name like that without having to ask me for permission each time? You can write a Blanket Letter of Permission to Conflict with Name Template letters: [DOC] [PDF] I don’t mind if anyone else’s name appears to claim a relationship with me. How can I let anyone register a name like that without having to ask me for permission each time? You’ll need to write a Letter of Blanket Permission to Claim Relationship. Template letters: [DOC] [PDF] I don’t care if people register devices or badges that would conflict with mine because it’s too similar. How can I let anyone register a device or badge like that without having to ask me for permission each time? You can write a Blanket Letter of Permission to Conflict with Armory. Template letters: [DOC] [PDF] How do I document that someone is related to me for the purposes of the Existing Registration Allowance? One way is to include a copy of the legal document that shows the relationship (marriage license, birth certificate, etc.). Another common way is to write a Letter of Attesting to Legal Relationship. Template letters: [DOC] [PDF] How do I document my minor child’s legal name for the purposes of the Legal Name Allowance? One way is to include a copy of the legal document that shows the child’s name, such as a birth certificate. Another common way is to write a Letter of Attesting to Legal Relationship. Template letters: [DOC] [PDF] How do I transfer a name, device, or badge to someone else? You’ll need to write a Letter of Transfer (and the other person write a Letter of Acceptance of Transfer, below). Template letters: [DOC] [PDF] How do I accept a transfer of a name, device, or badge from someone else? You’ll need to write a Letter of Acceptance of Transfer (and the other person write a Letter of Transfer, above). Template letters: [DOC] [PDF] Heraldic Wills are documents that tell Laurel what to do with your items after you pass away. Like a regular will, there are many options. Here are templates for some of the most common. If you want to do something not covered by these templates, please contact your Principal Herald for assistance in drafting an acceptable Heraldic Will. Transfer all items to a single person: [DOC] [PDF] Transfer specific items to a single person: [DOC] [PDF] Transfer specific items to different people: [DOC] [PDF] Release all items: [DOC] [PDF] Release specific items: [DOC] [PDF] Transfer specific items to different people and release other specific items: [DOC] [PDF] My branch wants to register a name and arms. How do we demonstrate support from the branch for these registrations? You’ll want to have a Petition for Registration of Group Name and/or Device. Template letters: [DOC] [PDF]
Maintained by Codex Herald. This page was last updated on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The heraldry.sca.org site is copyright 1995-2024 Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. The copyright of certain portions of heraldry.sca.org are retained by the original contributors as noted. External links are not part of the heraldry.sca.org web site. Inclusion of a page or site here is neither implicit nor explicit endorsement of the site. Further, SCA, Inc. is not responsible for content outside of heraldry.sca.org. For information on how SCA uses collected and submitted data, please see the Privacy Policy. Paper texture used with permission from GRSites.com.