Copy of highschool diploma (virginia laws)

[chuck]

Hey guys.

I went to highschool in virginia and need a copy of my diploma. I graduated about 10 years ago. The office told me that they can not issue a diploma with my new name. Does this sound right? And more importantly does anyone have any legal connections to anyone that might be able to help me out. I am going back to college (for another degree in a completely unrelated field of study) and need my highschool info.

Thanks everyone.

[LordKAT]

That is a common response and if you fight it, you will likely lose.

[mrs izzy]

I know of no high schools that will re issue a wall hanger diploma. It really is just a piece of paper and not worth the paper it is written on, the school records show you have graduated.
If you have a court orderd name change and the school will not give you a copy of your school records in the new updated name then they will be in violation af a ruling of the courts. That is one thing they have to do or you could file a suite aginst them.

Izzy

[chuck]

Two different answers. Hm. Well this is pretty darn frustrating. I haven't had to deal with this crap for years. I already have a masters degree but I want to go back to school. Ugh. I thought this sort of crap was behind me. The secretary sent a ocpy of my e-mail to the principal where they both called me 'she' numerous times. FML. Bah. Maybe I can just order a fake diploma, but get my transcripts changed. Anyone have insight on this?

[kaiju]

Get a certified copy of your name change order and forward it to them, stating that they're in violation of the court's ruling if they opt not to update your records and reissue them under the correct name. I had my name legally changed while IN high school in Virginia, and still had to fight my school to get the records changed with my certified order(funny, because my diploma had yet to be made and the orders wouldn't go out for months). It takes a bit of fighting, I find, but if your order is worded correctly, they have to change it.

Back it up with a copy of your ID, etc to help prove that this is your legal name and it's a big deal to have your records amended, especially if they're incorrect. I know a girl whose middle name was changed by her parents without her knowledge in high school, and upon graduating was furious to find a new and unwanted name on her diploma. After amending her name with her state and social security etc, she fought her school until they fixed her records.

In the end, they may still refuse to fix your records and you can make the choice to pursue it with a lawyer or other help. If they do opt to change it following everything, you might have to pay a fee for new records, but at least it'll be in your proper name.

EDIT: To add to my story: I had to go over my principal's head to the superintendent to get them to fix my stuff. You may have to do that as well.

[randomroads]

I agree that you should send them a copy of the court order and nag the heck out of them until they do what you want.

I'm appalled that they're calling a MAN a woman.

I'm also confused why you need anything from high school when you've already gone that route before. You're old enough that having proof that you've graduated high school is kind of a moot point. I didn't graduate high school, I got my GED, and they STILL didn't ask for a copy of that.

[tgchar21]

In terms of re-issuing the diploma (not changing your records), there's no obligation for a school to do so (since in many cases it's not the official document). The only way you'd have a case here is if they let other graduates whose diploma is lost/destroyed or had a name change order a new one, but aren't letting you do so.

In terms of the actual transcript/school records, I've heard of several cases where a school outright refuses to even add your new name to the records. If you want to really pursue changing your records you may be able to challenge it in federal court under FERPA (which requires that records be "accurate"). Having said that, you probably won't be able to get a court to order that the school remove your old name from the record unless you never used said name while attending there (but rather merely add your new name to the record, which wouldn't help with stealth but there would be at least no confusion that the records are yours); this assumes there aren't any laws to the contrary where you live. This is a situation where there are three possible basic outcomes - they change your records completely without any reference to your past, they add your new name but still show what it was when you attended the school, or they refuse to make any changes whatsoever.

[CR]

I got a new diploma no problem.