Heraldic Beasts?

[Bugbear]

Hi Mike,

Not sure what you mean by substantive arms - the chances are good that you will be able to devise a variation on your clan arms that are sufficiently different for you to avoid the accusation that you are "stealing" someone else's arms.

To be valid, a grant of arms must be substantive. Generally speaking substantive grants are made by sovereign entities through the appropriate governmental department. Arms granted by the Lord Lyon and the Chief Herald of Ireland are substantive, as each of these offices are, ultimately, a branch of government. ...
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As the current Spanish College of Arms lacks a substantive position vis-a-vis the Spanish government or crown, it functions more along the lines of a graphic design studio which then records their work-for-hire on behalf of their clients.

This was the origin of the term "substantive" in the thread. I'm still a little confused as to whom the substantive arms would be valid or invalid, but I assume it is to other heraldic authorities.

There are no clan arms or arms in the family in my case.