How to Change Name in School Certificate in 2026: Complete Guide to Name Change in School Marksheet

Quick Answer: The 3-Step Legal Process

Create an Affidavit: A legal declaration stating your old name, new name, and reason for the change.
Newspaper Advertisement: Publish the name change advertisement in two local newspapers (one Hindi/Regional and one English).
Gazette Notification: The final and most important step. You must publish your name change in the Central Gazette of India.
Apply through your school with a formal name change in your school certificate application with self-attested necessary documents, including the gazette notification.

Pro Tip: Once the Gazette Notification is published, your name change becomes legally valid and recognised. Once published, your gazette notification will serve as legal proof of your name change. You can show and use this to any school board (CBSE, ICSE, State Boards) to request a name update.

Introduction: Correcting Name in Class 10th-12th School Marksheet

If you are a student struggling with an incorrect name on your school certificate or school marksheet, then you are at the right doorstep. In this updated guide on how to change name in school certificate, I will teach you how you can legally and easily correct or change your name on your school marksheet.

Many students and professionals in India struggle with the name-mismatch issue every year. Even a single or small mismatch in your name on a school leaving certificate or class 10th mark sheet can cause rejection in your Passport/Visa application, government jobs or higher education plans.

But now, when you are at the doorstep of YourDoorStep, you have nothing to worry about. By the end of this easy guide to name correction in school certificate, you will be able to change and correct your name in your 10th-class marksheet.

So, let YourDoorStep be your trusted name change guide to help you legally update your name on your school-leaving certificate and marksheet.

Scenario 1: Name Change in School Certificate While Still Studying in School

Many students often ask “How to change name in school record” while still being a student in the school. The good part is, it is relatively easier to correct or change your name while you are still studying in school, that too without needing a gazette notification. Here’s how to change name in school marksheet or certificate while still studying (Minor name correction in school certificate):

Step 1: Write a formal application to the Principal requesting a name change or correction.

Step 2: Submit proof of the correct name, such as a birth certificate or Aadhaar Card or any other government-approved identity prooff.

Step 3: The school will review your request and update the school admission register and future documents, like the School Transfer Certificate, based on your request and documents.

Note: If you are in Class 10 or 12, ensure this is done before the “List of Candidates” (LOC) is sent to the Board. Once the LOC is submitted, the process becomes much harder.

Scenario 2: How To Change Name in School Marksheet/Certificate After You Have Passed Out

Changing your name in your school certificate, such as your 10th-12th marksheet, school leaving or transfer certificate, is relatively difficult as the Board (CBSE/State) will require a strong legal proof of your name to alter its records.

Here’s how you can change your name on your school certificate after you have passed out:

Step 1: The Affidavit of Name Change

First, you will need to draft an affidavit of name change. To do that, you will be required to visit a local notary. The local notary will help you draft your name change affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper, clearly mentioning :

Your current specific name in school records.
The new correct name you want.
Your father’s and mother’s names.
Permanent address.

The affidavit is required to be notarised by a notary public or a first-class magistrate.

Step 2: Newspaper Name Change Ad Publication in Public Notice

For a legal name change, it is mandatory to announce your name change in a public notice to maintain transparency. To do that, you will be required to book a classified ad in two national newspapers:

One in a national English newspaper
One in a national (local/regional) Hindi newspaper

Make sure your name change ad include all the necessary details, including your old name, new name, date of affidavit, etc.

Also, ensure your name change ad is published in the government-approved format

For example: “I, Rahul Sharma, residing at [Address], have changed my name to Rahul Verma via affidavit dated [Date]…”

Step 3: The Central Gazette Notification for Name Change in School Records

For a complete or legal name change, you will be required to apply for Gazette notification and get your name change officially published in the Gazette of India.

To apply for gazette notificaiton you must prepare a gazette name change file with your Affidavit, Newspaper clippings, Photos, and a CD containing the soft copy.

Submit this to the Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi. The gazette name change publication usually takes around 20 to 40 working days to publish your new name in the Gazette of India.

Once your gazette notification is published, your new name becomes legally valid, and you can use this gazette notification as solid legal proof of your name change.

If you find the process confusing and time-consuming, then you can hire name change professionals like YourDoorStep to handle your entire name change procedure for you.

From preparing a name change affidavit, publishing name change ad in newspaper, preparing your gazette name change file, formatting CD to submitting your file to the gazette office, YourDoorStep takes care of it all.

Best part? You can get it all done from the comfort of your home and without having to visit any government office in person.

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Specific Document Corrections

How to Change Name in School Leaving Certificate (SLC/TC)?

The School Leaving Certificate (also called Transfer Certificate) is the first document colleges ask for.

Process: You cannot change an SLC (School Leaving Certificate or School Transfer Certificate) once issued. But if you have a gazette notification, then you can easily and legally change your name on your school-leaving certificate.

Validity: All universities in India are legally bound to accept the Old SLC + Gazette Notification as valid proof of your new name. That means, you can legally apply for a name change or name correction in your School Transfer Certificate using a valid gazette notification.

How to Change Name in School Marksheet (Class 10th & 12th)?

Boards like CBSE and ICSE have strict limitation periods (usually 1 to 5 years from the result

date) for corrections in your 10th-12th marksheet. Here’s how you can change your name in your class 10th-12th school marksheet:

Obtain your gazette notification.
Submit your gazette notification along with the name change application and other important documents to your school principal.
The school will forward your application to the Regional Board Office.
The Board will issue a fresh marksheet or a correction slip to update your name in its records.

How to Change Name in School Certificate After Marriage?

Many women wish to update their surname in school/college degrees after their marriage to reflect on their marital status.

But the question is, is it mandatory to change name after marriage? No. You can continue using your maiden name post-marriage. But if you want to change your name and adopt your husband’s surname, then you will need two major documents: a valid marriage certificate and a gazette notification.

The Board will require your gazette notification to state that “Miss Priya Singh” has become “Mrs Priya Sharma”.

Once you have the Gazette notification, the process is the same: Apply to the Board via your School with all the necessary documents.

Why is the Name Change in School Certificate So Difficult?

The government makes name changes strict to prevent fraud and identity theft. One small mistake in your Affidavit or Newspaper Ad format can lead to rejection by the Gazette office.

Did you buy the wrong stamp paper? Rejected.

Did you miss a signature on the CD certificate? Rejected.

Did you format the newspaper ad incorrectly? Rejected.

How Does YourDoorStep Assist You in Your Name Change Journey?

Why risk rejection and waste money and time? At YourDoorStep, we specialise in Legal Documentation.

We Draft: Our legal experts draft the perfect Affidavit.
We Publish: We handle the newspaper ads in your city.
We Submit: We file your application directly with the Central Gazette Department.
We Deliver: The final Gazette copy comes to your email/doorstep.
We provide name change-related services throughout India. whether you are in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, or a small village.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Can I change my name in school certificates online?

A: No, the initial application to the Board usually goes through the school physically. However, the Gazette Notification (which is the main requirement) can be facilitated online through services like YourDoorStep.

Q2: How much time does it take to change name in school documents?

A: The legal process (Affidavit + Gazette) takes about 3-4 weeks. After that, the School Board may take another 1-2 months to print the new certificates.

Q3: Is a Gazette Notification mandatory for spelling corrections?

A: For minor spelling errors (e.g., “Smyth” to “Smith”), some Boards accept just an affidavit and school records. However, for a full name change (e.g., “Amit” to “Rahul”), a Gazette Notification is mandatory.

Q4: Can I change my father’s name in the school marksheet?

A: Yes, but it is stricter. You will need to prove that the name in the school record is legally wrong using your father’s official government ID and a Gazette notification.

Ready to fix your document ? Let YourDoorStep handle the paperwork while you focus on your studies and career.

Contact us today: (+91) 9540005064

Email us: support@yourdoorstep.co

Visit: www.yourdoorstep.com

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