Legal Definitions - lady

In the United Kingdom, the title Lady is a formal honorific used for specific women within the British peerage and gentry. It is typically applied in the following circumstances:

• The wife of a peer (such as a Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, or Baron).
• The wife of a baronet or a knight, often used as a courtesy title.
• Any woman, whether single or married, whose father holds a noble rank of Earl or higher (such as a Duke or Marquess).

Here are some examples illustrating how the title Lady is applied:

• Example 1: When Eleanor Vance marries Lord Edward Sterling, who holds the title of a Viscount, she becomes known as Lady Sterling (or more formally, Viscountess Sterling). This illustrates the application of the title to the wife of a peer.

• Example 2: After Dr. Alistair Finch receives a knighthood for his contributions to medicine, his wife, Catherine Finch, is subsequently referred to as Lady Finch. This demonstrates the use of "Lady" as a courtesy title for the wife of a knight.

• Example 3:Sophia Beaumont is the daughter of the Duke of Wessex. Even though Sophia is not married, she is formally addressed as Lady Sophia Beaumont. This example shows how the title is applied to a woman whose father holds a noble rank of Duke, which is higher than an Earl.