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Established Titles
Established Titles
Established Titles
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Established Titles is a company which sells souvenir plots of Scottish land from 1 sq ft (0.09 m2) to 20 sq ft (1.86 m2). The company retains legal ownership of the land. While the company claims that those who buy the 'plots' can choose to be titled Lord, Laird or Lady, as part of a supposed "traditional Scottish custom", souvenir plots are too small to be legally registered for ownership and owners of souvenir plots do not have the right to officially title themselves.[1] It owns land in Ardallie, Aberdeenshire,[2][3] Dunfermline, Dumfries, Galloway and the Borders.[4] YouTuber Scott Shafer's video alleging that the company was a scam caused significant controversy and many YouTubers to drop sponsorships from the company.[5]

Key Information

Operations

[edit]

It was founded by CEO Katerina Yip.[2] Established Titles has allegedly been referred to the Advertising Standards Authority.[6] It received backlash for its aggressive marketing efforts, which involves recruiting YouTubers for promotions.[4][7] The company is owned by Hong Kong–based investment firm, Galton Voysey Ltd.[8]

Controversy

[edit]

On 23 November 2022, YouTuber Scott Shafer uploaded a video accusing Established Titles of being a scam that misleads its customers, advising YouTubers to stop working with the company as they do not legally bestow ownership.[9] After the video went viral, many YouTubers dropped their sponsorships, including Philip DeFranco and SomeOrdinaryGamers. Established Titles defended itself in a letter to its partners saying that it was "under a targeted, completely unfounded attack based on bogus claims", claiming that it had been transparent about its practices. Many other YouTubers have released videos reasserting Shafer's stance.[2][4][10][11]

Legally, the company never transfers ownership of the plots to the customers, but even if they did, the Court of the Lord Lyon has stated that "ownership of a souvenir plot of land does not bring with it the right to any description such as ‘laird’, ‘lord’ or ‘lady’". The Court also stated that laird is not a title but a description of an owner of a large estate, not a residential sized property or smaller, and that the titles lord or lady can only be conferred by letters patent, at the pleasure of the Sovereign.[12] Additionally, the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012 specifically excludes souvenir plots, which it defines as a plot "of inconsiderable size and of no practical utility", from being registered in Scotland.[13]

Established Titles said that the plots were "a fun gift, meant for a good laugh" and that customers are aware of this; this has been refuted, according to NBC News, by customers who have reported that they believed they were buying land.[2]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Established Titles

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from Grokipedia
Established Titles is an company founded in that sells small souvenir plots of land in , typically measuring one , enabling buyers to receive a novelty certificate allowing them to informally style themselves as "," "," or "" based on Scottish custom. The company, operated by Galton Voysey Limited and registered in , claims to own or control several parcels totaling around 55 acres across locations such as and Eddleston, though legal ownership remains with the company or related entities rather than individual buyers. The business model involves purchasing title packs starting at approximately $49.95, which include a personalized certificate, the dedication of a plot, and commitments to environmental efforts like tree planting through partners such as Trees for the Future. Established Titles emphasizes that its offerings are for and novelty purposes only, explicitly disclaiming any conferral of legal land ownership or titles recognized by the government. Proceeds are stated to support the perpetual preservation of Scottish woodlands, with the company reporting over 2.3 million trees planted as of 2025 and receiving recognition such as the "Best Green Business " from Global Brands Magazine in 2021. Despite its popularity, particularly through sponsorships, Established Titles has faced significant and accusations of misleading marketing, with critics labeling it a for implying buyers gain actual titles or . In late 2022, several prominent YouTubers publicly distanced themselves from promotions after investigations, including an exposé by , revealed discrepancies in ownership claims and tree-planting verification. The UK's Advertising Standards Authority launched an investigation into the company's advertisements following complaints about deceptive practices; in , it ruled the ads misleading for exaggerating and issued a ban. Scottish land ownership expert Andy Wightman has highlighted that the scheme exploits a cultural without providing genuine , noting the company's reported revenues exceeding $82 million while claiming financial losses. The company continues to operate as of 2025.

History

Founding

Established Titles was founded in 2019 by Katerina Yip, a U.S. citizen based in , as a novelty service offering small souvenir plots of Scottish land. The initial concept drew from historical Scottish customs under old , where landowners—known as "Lairds" (the Scots equivalent of "")—could use the title based on their property ownership, a tradition tied to inheritable land holdings and lesser gentry status. Yip, who developed a passion for the Scottish countryside during her time studying law at the University of Durham and living in , aimed to combine this custom with preservation efforts through affordable, symbolic land sales. The company operates under the parent entity Galton Voysey Ltd., a Hong Kong-registered (company number 2232931) focused on ventures. Early operations centered on an online platform for sales, emphasizing quick digital delivery of personalized certificates to customers worldwide, positioning the service as a lighthearted, accessible rather than a formal legal conveyance. This model allowed for immediate fulfillment without physical land transfer, aligning with the novelty focus while pledging tree-planting partnerships to support Scottish conservation.

Expansion and Growth

Following its founding by Katerina Yip in 2019, Established Titles experienced significant operational scaling through its platform, which facilitated rapid customer acquisition. By , the company had achieved substantial sales volume, generating an estimated £82.6 million in revenue from purchases alone, indicating millions of transactions worldwide. A key aspect of the company's growth involved enhancing its environmental commitments to broaden market appeal. In September 2020, Established Titles signed the Woodland Trust Charter, pledging to plant one tree for every title pack sold and aiming to reach 35 million trees by 2050 in partnership with organizations like Trees for the Future. By late , this initiative had resulted in over 2 million trees planted, with the total exceeding 2.38 million as of November 2025. Headquartered in under parent company Galton Voysey Limited (registration No. 2232931), Established Titles manages its Scottish land interests remotely, controlling parcels such as those in to support plot dedications, with some held by related entities. This structure enabled efficient scaling without a physical presence for operations. Operational milestones further drove expansion, including the launch of an interactive "Where's My Plot" tool on the company around 2021, allowing customers to locate their dedicated plots using unique identifiers for greater transparency and engagement. Concurrently, product offerings evolved to include larger plot options, expanding from initial 1-square-foot dedications to packages up to 20 square feet, such as in couple title packs, to cater to varied customer preferences.

Business Model

Products and Packages

Established Titles offers souvenir plots of Scottish land as the core of its products, with sizes of 1 square foot (0.09 m²), 5 square feet (0.46 m²), or 10 square feet (0.93 m²). These plots are located in scenic areas including Ardallie in Aberdeenshire, Dunfermline, Southwick in Dumfries and Galloway, Wigtownshire, and Eddleston in the Scottish Borders. The company's packages, such as the Lordship Title Pack, Ladyship Title Pack, and Couple Title Pack, include a dedicated plot allocation along with a personalized title certificate featuring the buyer's name and a unique plot number, as well as GPS coordinates to the land's location. Digital versions of the certificate and deed to the souvenir plot are provided. Optional add-ons include printed and framed certificates. Each order includes the planting of one tree through partners such as Trees for the Future to support conservation efforts. Prices for these packages start at $59.95 for the basic 1 square foot option, with higher tiers for larger plots or additional physical items. These souvenir plots are not registrable under the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012, and Established Titles retains legal ownership of the land while maintaining private records of allocations. Delivery occurs digitally within 24 hours for certificates and deeds, with physical items shipped globally within 10 business days. The products are often marketed through influencer partnerships to promote the novelty of acquiring a or title.

Marketing and Sales

Established Titles employs a digital-first approach to , leveraging an SEO-optimized to drive and facilitate online of its novelty title packs. The company utilizes platforms for transactions, offering global shipping to customers worldwide. A key component of its promotional strategy involves partnerships with influencers, particularly on , where it led entertainment brands in spending with an estimated $14 million in value and 91 million views generated in 2022. These sponsorships provide creators with commissions to promote the products, highlighting their appeal as unique gifts. Marketing campaigns focus on the fun, novelty aspect of becoming a "" or "," positioning the titles as ideal for gifting occasions while emphasizing environmental contributions. For every plot purchased, Established Titles commits to planting at least one through partnerships with organizations like Trees for the Future and One Tree Planted, having planted over 2.38 million trees globally as of November 2025. The sales model includes a straightforward refund policy, allowing customers to request full refunds or replacements within 60 days of receiving their certificate by contacting .

Land Ownership Rules

Under Scottish law, the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012, Section 22, establishes general conditions for applications to register a plot of land, explicitly prohibiting the registration of "." A is defined as a plot of land that is of inconsiderable size and of no practical utility, and which is neither a plot already registered in the nor the subject of a voluntary application for registration. In practice, this provision prevents the subdivision and separate registration of very small land parcels of inconsiderable size and no practical utility, which are deemed to lack substantive legal or practical value beyond novelty. These rules ensure that the maintains integrity by excluding fragmented holdings that could complicate property records without conferring meaningful rights. Established Titles operates within this framework by selling deeds to minuscule souvenir plots on larger estates in , but the company, through its parent entity Galton Voysey Ltd., retains full legal ownership of the underlying land. Buyers receive only a commemorative or deed symbolizing a personal, non-transferable interest in the designated plot, without any conveyance of actual or . This arrangement aligns with the Act's restrictions, as the plots—often as small as one —are ineligible for independent registration and remain part of the broader estate held by Galton Voysey Ltd. Consequently, purchasers of these plots from Established Titles are granted no physical access to the land, nor any rights to develop, use, or occupy it. The plots function solely as symbolic gifts, managed collectively by the landowner for purposes such as conservation, with no individual entitlements to visitation or alteration. This limitation underscores the novelty intent of the scheme, where legal ownership stays centralized to comply with registration prohibitions. Souvenir plot schemes in trace their origins to the late , emerging prominently in the as a means to offer affordable, whimsical land "ownership" tied to cultural titles like . However, evolving regulations, culminating in the 2012 Act, have curtailed their legal weight, confining them to commemorative status without enforceable property interests.

Title Validity Under Law

In the , honorific titles such as , , or are formally granted through the royal prerogative, typically via issued by the Sovereign, which specify the title and its conditions of inheritance, or through hereditary succession as outlined in the original grant. These titles confer status, recognized by heraldic authorities like the in or the in , and may include privileges such as seats in the for certain peerages. Souvenir plots of land, such as those sold by companies like Established Titles, do not qualify as a basis for such formal grants, as they represent only nominal, undivided interests in larger estates without conferring any peerage or official title rights. The , Scotland's principal heraldic authority, has explicitly stated that ownership of a of land—a few square feet marketed as a novelty—does not entitle the holder to descriptions like "," "," or "," as these require substantive landownership or confirmation. "" functions as a descriptive term for the principal landowner of an estate, not an attachable title like "Laird of [Place]," and lacks official recognition when derived from fractional plots. Similarly, "" and "" are reserved for those holding confirmed , unrelated to mere land ownership. Such schemes thus provide no legitimate claim to , only a novelty or courtesy usage in informal contexts. Concerns over misleading advertising by Established Titles, implying that purchases confer genuine titles, prompted referrals to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in 2022, prompting an investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in 2022 regarding potential breaches of rules against . As of 2025, no public ruling from the investigation has been issued. While these titles may be used socially or on certain personal documents in some jurisdictions as a , they hold no legal weight for official purposes, such as inclusion on passports, where only verified , professional, or manorial titles (backed by full property evidence) are accepted. Nominal plots from such services are explicitly excluded from passport observations due to their lack of substantive ownership.

Controversies

2022 Public Backlash

In late November 2022, Established Titles faced significant public scrutiny following a viral YouTube video by creator Scott Shafer titled "Established Titles Scam - YouTube's BIGGEST Con! Graham Stephan & Andrei Jikh," uploaded on November 23, which accused the company of misleading consumers about the legal validity and ownership implications of its title packages. The video, which highlighted discrepancies between marketing claims and Scottish land laws, amassed over 2.5 million views within its first week. The exposure led to immediate fallout among influencers, with numerous YouTubers severing ties with the company as sponsors. Prominent creators such as , Omni, TheQuartering, and SomeOrdinaryGamers publicly announced they were dropping Established Titles promotions, citing concerns over the allegations of deceptive practices. This wave of withdrawals marked a substantial loss for the company's influencer-driven marketing strategy, as it relied heavily on such partnerships to reach audiences. Major media outlets amplified the controversy, with reporting on the sponsorship dropouts and scam claims on December 1, 2022, and The National in covering the backlash on November 29, 2022, emphasizing criticisms of selling "souvenir plots" as authentic nobility entitlements. On December 13, 2022, The National further reported that the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) had initiated enforcement action against Established Titles following complaints about misleading advertisements. In response, Established Titles issued a statement to its creator partners describing the criticism as a "targeted, completely unfounded attack based on bogus claims" and updated its website to more prominently feature disclaimers clarifying that the title packs are novelty items without legal peerage or land ownership rights. No formal shutdown of operations or lawsuits from the company against critics were reported in connection with these events.

Ongoing Criticisms and Responses

Ongoing criticisms of Established Titles have persisted beyond initial public scrutiny, with advocate Andy Wightman labeling the company's offerings a due to misleading implications about and title validity. Wightman, a prominent Scottish commentator on land rights, emphasized that purchasers do not gain any legal of or hereditary titles, despite marketing that could suggest otherwise. These concerns, which gained initial traction through a 2022 video exposing the practices, continue to echo in expert analyses highlighting the novelty-only nature of the titles. Consumer feedback reflects mixed experiences, with reports of dissatisfaction centered on the non-legal status of the titles and lack of tangible benefits beyond sentimental value. On , Established Titles maintains a 4.6 out of 5 rating based on over 6,300 reviews as of late 2025, indicating general satisfaction among many buyers who view the products as fun gifts. However, some consumers have expressed regret over perceived misleading advertising, contributing to ongoing warnings in online discussions about the absence of real legal recognition. In response, Established Titles has enhanced its website disclaimers to explicitly state that the titles confer no legal rights, , or land ownership, positioning the products strictly as novelty items for gifting and personal enjoyment. The company has continued operations without facing major regulatory fines or enforcement actions through 2025, maintaining a focus on charitable contributions like tied to sales. The controversies have broadened scrutiny of comparable schemes, such as those offered by Highland Titles, which similarly sell small plots and courtesy titles but have faced parallel critiques for lacking legal substance. This has indirectly fueled discussions around Scottish , including the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, passed in November 2025, which addresses concentrated land ownership and may highlight issues with non-traditional land marketing practices.

References

  1. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/established-titles
  2. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scottish-land-lords-ladies-certificate-28647938
  3. https://andywightman.scot/2022/12/established-titles/
  4. https://establishedtitles.com/pages/about-us
  5. https://establishedtitles.com/
  6. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/established-titles-wins-best-green-business-award-in-scotland-at-the-9th-edition-of-global-brands-magazine-awards-301377722.html
  7. https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/youtube-creators-established-titles-sponsorship-controversy-rcna59518
  8. https://www.thenational.scot/news/23188588.established-titles-faces-advertising-standards-authority-investigation/
  9. https://www.facebook.com/establishedtitles/
  10. https://www.lairdofblackwood.com/laird-title/
  11. https://www.ecovoice.com.au/established-titles-signs-the-uk-woodland-trust-charter-planning-to-plant-35-million-trees-by-2050/
  12. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200908005528/en/Established-Titles-Signs-the-UK-Woodland-Trust-Charter-Planning-to-Plant-35-Million-Trees-by-2050
  13. https://www.elitetitles.co.uk/established-titles
  14. https://establishedtitles.com/products/copy-of-couple-title-pack
  15. https://establishedtitles.com/products/lordship-title-pack-new
  16. https://establishedtitles.com/pages/terms-conditions
  17. https://www.establishedtitles.com/
  18. https://influencermarketinghub.com/top-youtube-spenders-report/
  19. https://trees.org/sponsor/established-titles/
  20. https://establishedtitles.com/pages/return-refund-policy
  21. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2012/5/section/22
  22. https://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/journal/issues/vol-57-issue-04/caution-the-souvenir-hunters/
  23. https://peterbevis.com/souvenir-plots-and-the-law/
  24. https://debretts.com/peerage/the-peerage/creation-and-inheritance-of-peerages/
  25. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/titles-included-in-passports/titles-accessible
  26. https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/established-titles-scam
  27. https://www.thenational.scot/news/23156697.youtube-established-titles-criticised-selling-scottish-land/
  28. https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/04/21/the-dark-side-of-fake-scottish-titles-an-inside-look-at-the-plots-of-land-being-gifted-to-
  29. https://www.trustpilot.com/review/establishedtitles.com
  30. https://establishedtitles.com/pages/is-established-titles-a-scam
  31. https://www.gov.scot/publications/land-reform-scotland-bill-business-regulatory-impact-assessment-bria/pages/1/
  32. https://www.gov.scot/news/land-reform-bill-2/
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