Grant of arms

A grant of arms or a governmental issuance of arms is an instrument issued by a lawful authority, such as an officer of arms or State Herald, which confers on a person and his or her descendants the right to bear a particular coat of arms or armorial bearings. It is one of the ways in which a person may lawfully bear arms in a jurisdiction regulating heraldry, another being by birth, through inheritance.

Historically a grant of arms is distinguished from both a confirmation of arms and a private registration of arms. A grant of arms confers a new right, whereas a confirmation of arms confirms an existing right; and a private registration of arms is a record which does not purport to create or confirm any legal right. However a governmental registration of arms by an official government agency, (e.g., Bureau of Heraldry in South Africa) does create and confirm new legal rights. The College of Arms issues "letters patent" the Bureau of Heraldry issues "certificates of registration". For all intents and purposes it's the same thing. The College of Arms "grants" in the name of the monarch and in South Africa under the Heraldry Act (1962) the certificate is "issued". In both cases the heraldic representation so issued and recorded affords the applicant sole ownership of the unique design. Marcel van Rossum, OMBB Deputy Director Bureau of Heraldry

A grant of arms or government registration of arms typically takes the form of letters patent, which provide self-contained proof, upon production of the letters patent, of the right conferred. For example, a grant or patent of arms from officers of the College of Arms in London, as well as related letters patent such as a grant of an augmentation, a crest, or supporters, will begin with the words "To all and singular to whom these presents shall come..." or variations thereof, thereby showing that the grant is addressed to anyone in the world to whom it may be presented; this applies equally to grants made to private individuals    and to grants made to corporate bodies,   and also applies to grants made to entities in Australia or any other Commonwealth realm in which the College has heraldic jurisdiction.