Can a woman inherit a peerage?
Some peerages are inherited in the male line, while others can be inherited by females. Other peerages fall into abeyance when there are sisters, and others have sliding remainders. Each peerage is (or can be) different. The most important piece of information is the exact text in the patent creating the peerage. There it will usually say what is to happen to the peerage on the death of the grantee. The usual phrase in hereditary peerages (not life peerages) is something which means “and the heirs male of his body legitimately born”. Peerage law determines what is meant by “heirs male”, “of his body”, and “legitimately born”, but doesn’t affect the devolution of the peerage as defined in the patent. Since the Sovereign in the “fons honorum” (fount of honour), the Sovereign can issue whatever peerage he/she wants with whatever remainder he/she wants.
Related Questions
- If a woman inactivates her good X and has a disease caused by a mutation on her other X, does that mean that all her daughters who inherit the mutated X will also get the disease?
- How soon after ovulation does the egg have to be fertilized, and how long do sperm live in the womans reproductive tract?
- Can a woman inherit a coat-of-arms, or is it traditionally through the male line only?
