Legal Definitions - Lord Privy Seal

Definition: The Lord Privy Seal is an officer in English law who has custody of the privy seal. They authenticate either a state document before it receives the Great Seal or a document that does not require the Great Seal because of its minor importance. Although the Lord Privy Seal has nominal official duties, they are often made a member of the British cabinet.

Example: When a state document needs to be authenticated before it receives the Great Seal, the Lord Privy Seal is responsible for this task. They ensure that the document is valid and ready to be sealed. Additionally, if a document is of minor importance and does not require the Great Seal, the Lord Privy Seal can authenticate it instead.

Explanation: The Lord Privy Seal is an important officer in English law who ensures that important documents are valid and ready to be sealed. They have custody of the privy seal and are responsible for authenticating state documents. The examples illustrate how the Lord Privy Seal performs their duties and ensures that documents are properly authenticated.