Hereditary Titles (Female Succession) Bill

Key Points

• Allows daughters and other female heirs to inherit hereditary titles where there is no eligible male heir
• Would require changes to letters patent and other instruments that create titles to reflect equal succession
• Could affect current lines of succession and families holding or eligible for hereditary titles
• Sponsored by Dame Harriett Baldwin and introduced in the Commons; at the first-reading stage
• Represents a potential step toward reform of hereditary title succession, but none of its provisions take effect until passed into law

Progress

The bill is at the first-reading stage in the House of Commons (introduced 20 June 2022). It has not yet progressed to second reading or committee, so no debates or votes have occurred yet.