Writ of Acceleration

A writ of acceleration is a type of writ of summons that enables the eldest son and heir apparent of a peer with multiple peerage titles to attend the House of Lords, using one of his father's subsidiary titles. This procedure can be used to lower the average age of the house, and increase the number of capable members in a house that draws on a very small pool of talent--a condition that often exists during a time of war.

A writ of acceleration is granted only if the title being accelerated is a subsidiary one, and not the main title, and if the beneficiary of the writ was the heir apparent of the actual holder of the title; thus the elder peer is always at least a Count. For example, because the Earl of Blackwood is presently infirm and unable to attend Court, his heir apparent was issued a writ of acceleration, allowing him to sit in the Earl's stead, using the courtesy title, Baron Ashvale of Blackwood.