The Sardinian constitution, which remained in force for the whole of Italy,[”Notes” 1] stated that “Nobility titles are maintained to those who have right to them.
This diversity led its College of Arms, called Consulta araldica ('heraldic council'), to be organized in several regional commissions, each corresponding approximately to a pre-unification state, able to apply the particular codes of nobility.
Their use by individuals is not forbidden, but nor does the state enforce restrictions on their use within proscribed boundaries, as previous codes of nobility maintained.
[1] The word “heraldic” is always used by the CNI lato sensu, that is, considering all functions, rights, and duties of noble office, not only those relating to heraldry.
People entitled to be inscribed are: 1 – those already inscribed in the official registrars; 2 – those who had a grant of a nobility title (including the mere title of Noble) after the publication of the lists; 3 – legitimate and natural issue of the latter, meaning descendants which are both legitimate, excluding children born out of lawful wedlock, and natural, excluding adopted children, (children whose parents married after their birth are considered as fully legitimate as for the purposes of this list); 4 – illegitimately born children in whose act of legitimacy the succession in nobility titles is expressly provided (this could only happen during the kingdom); 5 – those who prove their descent by a man who had not been included in the lists at that time, but whose right is proven according to the applicable rules.
[3] Due to the same rule, CNI states that noblewomen by birth cannot be elected to any office while married to a non-noble man.
[4] The CNI is composed of 14 regional Nobility associations, reflecting the organization of the Heraldic Council (consulta araldica) in the Kingdom of Italy.
A commission is composed of 6 to 21 members, and is charged with compiling the regional nobility registry and assessing requests of inscriptions.
The CNI itself is governed by a National heraldic council (Consiglio araldico nazionale, sometimes referred to as CAN), composed by all members of regional commissions and the president of the youth club.
Notiziario dell'Associazione nobiliare regionale veneta – Rivista di studi storici – Nuova serie (in French).