Become a Lord

Becoming a lord in the United Kingdom can be a complex process. Nowadays, so-called “novelty titles” can be purchased simply and at a low cost, but these titles do not grant the applicant any official lordship. You can purchase legitimate “Lord of the Manor” titles at a higher cost, but you need to beware of potential scams.

Steps

Method One: Novelty Titles

1. Understand the practice. You can legally purchase novelty titles for as low as £29.99 ($45.87), but these titles are essentially valid in name only and don't serve any practical benefit.
   • Under United Kingdom law, you're legally allowed to call yourself whatever you want as long as you aren't defrauding anyone or using the name change to evade some type of legal responsibility. In that sense, novelty titles are technically legal, even if they aren't "real" in the most traditional sense.
   • Instead of a title, you're actually purchasing a name change. You would not become "Lord John Doe." Instead, it would be more accurate to address yourself as "Mr. Lord J. Doe."
   • Novelty titles do not grant you a seat in the House of Lords. Some are attached to small plots of land, but even these do not give you any land rights. The vast majority cannot be inherited by future generations, either.
2. Shop around. There are plenty of companies that sell novelty titles, so spend some time looking at several of them before making a final decision.
   • Use your favorite Internet search engine to look for agencies and other companies selling novelty titles. Try to pull at least a half-dozen to a dozen options from your search results, then weed through these options carefully.
   • Pay special attention to three qualities when you compare companies: legitimacy and cost.
   • It may also be worthwhile to consider where your money goes. Some companies put the funds toward conservation work on specific estates, so in essence, you're making a donation and receiving the novelty title in return.
3. Research the legitimacy of each company. Many companies offering novelty titles are legitimate and fairly priced for the service they provide, but beware of false companies or those claiming to offer more than legally possible.
   • If a company claims to offer legitimate titles that come with land rights or other formal benefits, you should automatically be suspicious.
   • Check the contact information. Companies that have a physical address and an actual phone number are more reliable than those with nothing but a Web presence.
   • Look for reviews provided on external websites, but don't rely on reviews provided on the company website itself since these will likely be skewed in a favorable direction.
4. Pick an option. Each company may claim to offer slightly different packages, and some companies even offer multiple package levels. Weigh the cost and benefits of each option before making your final decision.
   • Some companies may allow you to choose from several titles, including "Lord," "Baron," "Duke," "Earl," or "Viscount." None of these options offer any greater benefit than the others, though, so weigh these options based on preference alone.
   • Novelty titles usually sell for prices between £18.95 and £995 ($28.97 and $1521.29).
   • When looking at the cost between companies, those offering titles at the lowest cost may actually be best as long as the company itself is legitimate. Since no novelty title offers any practical benefit, spending a small fortune when buying one would be ill-advised.
   • Some novelty titles are connected to plots of land, but you need to read the fine print. In most cases, these titles only purchase plots that are 1 foot (30.5 cm) wide by 1 foot (30.5 cm) long, so you aren't getting much.
5. Complete the form and pay the fee. Once you make your decision, notify the seller and obtain the correct form. Fill out the information completely and accurately, then turn the form back in and pay any associated fees.
   • In most cases, the application can be completed in 30 minutes or less, especially if you're choosing one of the lowest budget options. You'll need to provide contact information and some basic legal information about yourself, but most applications don't require much private or detailed information.
6. Wait for your certificate. The exact amount of wait time can vary by company, but in most cases, you should receive your novelty "Certificate of Title" by mail within several weeks.
   • Legitimate companies will review your application over the course of several days to verify that there are no legal restrictions preventing you from obtaining a novelty title. Since nearly any adult can purchase one, though, you shouldn't anticipate a rejection.
   • When your certificate arrives, it will likely seem more formal than it actually is. It should say something along the lines of "Title Deed Poll," and your new, titled name will appear in the center of the paper.
7. Know how to use your new title. Since this title is little more than a name change, you are legally permitted to address yourself as a lord as long as you do not do so in a fraudulent manner. Using your title to defraud others can get you into some serious legal trouble, though.
   • You can add your new title to your passport, driver's license, bank account, credit card, and most other legal or formal accounts by filling out the appropriate paperwork for those documents. Effectively, though, you're only adding the title to those documents in the same way you'd change your given name on them.
   • Many sellers of novelty titles also claim that you can give your title during your everyday life in an attempt to get a little “extra” service, like the best restaurant reservations or better seats with an airline. You can technically do so without getting in trouble, but the key is in how you present yourself. Simply stating your new “title” and letting others react as they see fit is legal. Stating your “title,” making false claims of authority because of it, and demanding preferential treatment is illegal.

Method Two: Lord of the Manor

1. Know what to look for. Some formal societies and other trustworthy agencies sell "Lord of the Manor" titles instead of novelty titles. Instead of purchasing a small plot of land, you'll purchase an entire estate attached to a specific title.
   • Unlike novelty titles, purchasing an actual title as "Lord of the Manor" can offer some benefits, including fishing and mining rights. These titles are also slightly more prestigious than novelty titles, but the practice of buying titles is still looked down upon by most actual aristocrats.
   • There are multiple organizations and societies selling these titles, so it might be beneficial to shop around. If you want to play it safe, though, your best option is to check for available titles with The Manorial Society, one of the leading auctioneers of authentic British titles.
   • Legitimate titles usually start at approximately £5,000 ($7,641), but depending on the prestige of the title itself, you could end up paying up to six figures. One of the largest title sales in recent history cost £171,000 ($261,268).
2. Seek legal counsel. Before purchasing any title, it's a good idea to use a solicitor to validate the specific title you're interested in purchasing.
   • There are plenty of scams, especially if you choose to purchase this type of title from an unverified source. Moreover, title law can be complex, and it's easy to get scammed into a situation where you'll end up purchasing less than you intend. If you're not an expert in United Kingdom property law, legal counsel is strongly advised.
3. File the paperwork. If everything is legitimate and legal, you can purchase the title at the specified cost. You'll need to fill out some formal paperwork and pay the fee to the seller in the method they specify.
   • Since Lord of the Manor titles are more complex than novelty titles, you should expect to spend considerable time filling out much more paperwork. Among other documents, make sure that you register the estate with the United Kingdom Land Registry department.
4. Use your new title. Once you've made the purchase and have your title deed in hand, you can formally use your new title on your accounts and other legal documents.
   • Note the proper form. When you're only a Lord of the Manor, you're not supposed to use the title "Lord" in front of your name. Instead, use it as a suffix (e.g. "John Doe, Lord of the Manor of X," rather than "Lord John Doe").
   • These titles do not grant you membership into the House of Lords, but many of them can be passed down to future generations. As Lord of the Manor, you own a specific piece of property, and that property can be willed or transferred to others just as any other property could be.

Method Three: Traditional Lordships

1. Receive an appointment to the House of Lords. Members of the House of Lords receive their seat through official appointment. There is no way to buy your way into this type of title.
   • The Prime Minister can nominate someone for a life peerage, and if the Queen agrees with this nomination, that person will receive a title on appointment. Those who receive this title usually receive it for exemplary service to the country, and the title cannot be inherited by future generations.
   • Law lords must be recommended by the Lord Chancellor, nominated by the Prime Minister, and appointed by the Queen. To become a lord in this manner, you'll need to become a judge in the court of appeals first. This title cannot be inherited by future generations, either.
   • Bishops and archbishops can also become Members of the House of Lords. There are 26 seats open for these religious officials, and when one retires, the newly opened seat is passed to the most senior bishop without a title.
2. Marry into an inherited title. Lords with inherited titles do not become Members of the House of Lords, but receiving a title in this manner is more welcome among the aristocracy than purchasing your title as Lord of the Manor.
   • These titles are typically passed onto the eldest son in a family, but if the family has daughters and no sons, you could obtain the lordship title by marrying one of the daughters of the current entitled lord.

Sources and Citations

See also

• Pack for a Trip to London
• Become a UK Citizen
• Adapt to British Culture
• Visit Windsor Castle in England
• Live in London on a Budget