Grandfather clause

Grandfather rights or things allowed under a grandfather clause are things which would not be allowed according to current laws or practices but which predate those laws and practices and so are allowed to continue. In the SCA, things which are "grandfathered" tend to occur in older Kingdoms, predominantly the West and the East since many of their practices were established in the early days of the corporate SCA.

Notable examples of grandfathering include:

• Maintaining recognition of heraldic devices and names that are no longer acceptable to the College of Arms.
• The only "Court Count" in the SCA, Vardak Mirceavitch Basarabov of Iloi. (Compare with Court Baron). He was made a Count before the title was reserved to those who had been King once.
• The Crown Province of Ostgardr which functions as a Barony, while all other Provinces are explicitly denied a ceremonial head.
• The status of Eoforwic as a Royal Citie within the Kingdom of Ealdormere.