diff --git a/erpnext/accounts/doctype/cheque_print_template/cheque_print_template.json b/erpnext/accounts/doctype/cheque_print_template/cheque_print_template.json
index 012fb1be6d4..1e410ea93ad 100644
--- a/erpnext/accounts/doctype/cheque_print_template/cheque_print_template.json
+++ b/erpnext/accounts/doctype/cheque_print_template/cheque_print_template.json
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
  "field_order": [
   "settings",
   "has_print_format",
+  "print_format_creation",
   "primary_settings",
   "bank_name",
   "cheque_size",
@@ -61,6 +62,17 @@
    "hidden": 1,
    "label": "Has Print Format",
    "no_copy": 1,
+   "permlevel": 1,
+   "print_hide": 1,
+   "read_only": 1
+  },
+  {
+   "fieldname": "print_format_creation",
+   "fieldtype": "Datetime",
+   "hidden": 1,
+   "label": "Print Format Creation",
+   "no_copy": 1,
+   "permlevel": 1,
    "print_hide": 1,
    "read_only": 1
   },
@@ -298,7 +310,7 @@
  "icon": "printer",
  "links": [],
  "max_attachments": 1,
- "modified": "2026-06-08 12:10:35.829531",
+ "modified": "2026-10-29 12:48:46.566372",
  "modified_by": "Administrator",
  "module": "Accounts",
  "name": "Cheque Print Template",
@@ -316,6 +328,12 @@
    "share": 1,
    "write": 1
   },
+  {
+   "permlevel": 1,
+   "read": 1,
+   "role": "System Manager",
+   "write": 1
+  },
   {
    "create": 1,
    "delete": 1,
diff --git a/erpnext/accounts/doctype/cheque_print_template/cheque_print_template.py b/erpnext/accounts/doctype/cheque_print_template/cheque_print_template.py
index 19ef9ba8f5d..ef05a62c5d2 100644
--- a/erpnext/accounts/doctype/cheque_print_template/cheque_print_template.py
+++ b/erpnext/accounts/doctype/cheque_print_template/cheque_print_template.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import re
 import frappe
 from frappe import _
 from frappe.model.document import Document
+from frappe.utils import get_datetime
 
 
 class ChequePrintTemplate(Document):
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ class ChequePrintTemplate(Document):
 		message_to_show: DF.Data | None
 		payer_name_from_left_edge: DF.Float
 		payer_name_from_top_edge: DF.Float
+		print_format_creation: DF.Datetime | None
 		scanned_cheque: DF.Attach | None
 		signatory_from_left_edge: DF.Float
 		signatory_from_top_edge: DF.Float
@@ -50,6 +52,7 @@ class ChequePrintTemplate(Document):
 @frappe.whitelist(methods=["POST"])
 def create_or_update_cheque_print_format(template_name: str):
 	frappe.only_for("System Manager")
+	doc = frappe.get_doc("Cheque Print Template", template_name)
 
 	if not frappe.db.exists("Print Format", template_name):
 		cheque_print = frappe.new_doc("Print Format")
@@ -65,8 +68,6 @@ def create_or_update_cheque_print_format(template_name: str):
 	else:
 		cheque_print = frappe.get_doc("Print Format", template_name)
 
-	doc = frappe.get_doc("Cheque Print Template", template_name)
-
 	account_payee = ""
 	if doc.is_account_payable:
 		account_payee = """
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ def create_or_update_cheque_print_format(template_name: str):
 			message_to_show=frappe.as_json(doc.message_to_show or _("Account Pay Only"), ensure_ascii=False),
 		)
 
-	cheque_print.html = """
+	cheque_html = """
 <style>
 	.print-format {{
 		padding: 0px;
@@ -145,9 +146,32 @@ def create_or_update_cheque_print_format(template_name: str):
 		signatory_from_left_edge=doc.signatory_from_left_edge,
 	)
 
+	if not cheque_print.is_new():
+		if doc.print_format_creation:
+			is_generated_format = get_datetime(doc.print_format_creation) == get_datetime(
+				cheque_print.creation
+			)
+		else:
+			# Adopt an older format only when updating it would preserve its exact HTML.
+			is_generated_format = cheque_print.html == cheque_html
+
+		if not doc.has_print_format or cheque_print.doc_type != "Payment Entry" or not is_generated_format:
+			frappe.throw(
+				_(
+					"Print Format {0} already exists and could not be identified as generated by this template. "
+					"Rename the existing Print Format before continuing."
+				).format(frappe.bold(template_name)),
+				title=_("Print Format Conflict"),
+			)
+
+	cheque_print.html = cheque_html
 	cheque_print.save(ignore_permissions=True)
 
-	frappe.db.set_value("Cheque Print Template", template_name, "has_print_format", 1)
+	frappe.db.set_value(
+		"Cheque Print Template",
+		template_name,
+		{"has_print_format": 1, "print_format_creation": cheque_print.creation},
+	)
 
 	return cheque_print
 
diff --git a/erpnext/accounts/doctype/cheque_print_template/test_cheque_print_template.py b/erpnext/accounts/doctype/cheque_print_template/test_cheque_print_template.py
index e5e24367020..cf454fdaed6 100644
--- a/erpnext/accounts/doctype/cheque_print_template/test_cheque_print_template.py
+++ b/erpnext/accounts/doctype/cheque_print_template/test_cheque_print_template.py
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2015, Frappe Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and Contributors
 # See license.txt
 
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
 import frappe
+from frappe.desk.form.load import get_meta_bundle
 from frappe.translate import print_language
-from frappe.utils import fmt_money, money_in_words, nowdate
+from frappe.utils import fmt_money, get_datetime, money_in_words, nowdate
 from frappe.www.printview import get_rendered_template
 
 from erpnext.accounts.doctype.cheque_print_template.cheque_print_template import (
@@ -65,3 +68,124 @@ class TestChequePrintTemplate(ERPNextTestSuite):
 						self.assertIn(money_in_words(100.25, "USD"), rendered)
 						self.assertIn(fmt_money(100.25, currency="USD"), rendered)
 				self.assertEqual(payment.reload().in_words, money_in_words(100.25, "USD"))
+
+	def test_generated_print_format_ownership(self):
+		template = frappe.get_doc(
+			doctype="Cheque Print Template", bank_name="_Test Cheque Format Ownership"
+		).insert()
+
+		for operation in ("rename", "delete"):
+			with self.subTest(operation=operation):
+				generated = create_or_update_cheque_print_format(template.name)
+				template.reload()
+				if operation == "rename":
+					frappe.rename_doc("Print Format", generated.name, generated.name + " Archived")
+				else:
+					frappe.delete_doc("Print Format", generated.name)
+
+				self.assertEqual(template.has_print_format, 1)
+				replacement = frappe.get_doc(
+					doctype="Print Format",
+					name=template.name,
+					doc_type="Payment Entry",
+					standard="No",
+					custom_format=1,
+					print_format_type="Jinja",
+					html="<h1>Payment remittance advice</h1>",
+				).insert()
+				with self.assertRaises(frappe.ValidationError):
+					create_or_update_cheque_print_format(template.name)
+				self.assertEqual(replacement.reload().html, "<h1>Payment remittance advice</h1>")
+				# Reusing the generated HTML must not transfer ownership to the replacement record.
+				replacement.html = generated.html
+				replacement.save()
+				with self.assertRaises(frappe.ValidationError):
+					create_or_update_cheque_print_format(template.name)
+				frappe.delete_doc("Print Format", replacement.name)
+
+		generated = create_or_update_cheque_print_format(template.name)
+		template.reload()
+		template.payer_name_from_left_edge = 5
+		template.save()
+		updated = create_or_update_cheque_print_format(template.name)
+		self.assertEqual(generated.name, updated.name)
+		self.assertNotEqual(generated.html, updated.html)
+		self.assertIn("left: 5.0cm", updated.html)
+
+		# Existing generated formats can acquire an identity without changing their HTML.
+		template.db_set("print_format_creation", None)
+		self.assertEqual(create_or_update_cheque_print_format(template.name).html, updated.html)
+		self.assertEqual(get_datetime(template.reload().print_format_creation), updated.creation)
+
+		# An untracked customized format must not be adopted based on the stale checkbox.
+		template.db_set("print_format_creation", None)
+		updated.reload()
+		updated.html = "<h1>Customized payment layout</h1>"
+		updated.save()
+		with self.assertRaises(frappe.ValidationError):
+			create_or_update_cheque_print_format(template.name)
+		self.assertEqual(updated.reload().html, "<h1>Customized payment layout</h1>")
+
+		with self.set_user("Guest"), patch.dict(frappe.flags, {"in_test": False}):
+			with self.assertRaises(frappe.PermissionError):
+				create_or_update_cheque_print_format(template.name)
+		self.assertEqual(updated.reload().html, "<h1>Customized payment layout</h1>")
+
+	def test_print_format_identity_permissions(self):
+		manager = frappe.get_doc(
+			doctype="User",
+			email="cheque-accounts-manager@example.com",
+			first_name="Cheque Accounts Manager",
+			enabled=1,
+			send_welcome_email=0,
+			roles=[{"role": "Accounts Manager"}],
+		).insert()
+		print_format = frappe.get_doc(
+			doctype="Print Format",
+			name="_Test Cheque Format Permissions",
+			doc_type="Payment Entry",
+			standard="No",
+			custom_format=1,
+			print_format_type="Jinja",
+			html="<h1>Payment remittance advice</h1>",
+		).insert()
+
+		with self.set_user(manager.name):
+			self.assertFalse(frappe.has_permission("Print Format", "write", doc=print_format))
+			creation = next(
+				row["creation"]
+				for row in get_meta_bundle("Payment Entry")[0]["__print_formats"]
+				if row["name"] == print_format.name
+			)
+			template = frappe.get_doc(
+				doctype="Cheque Print Template",
+				bank_name=print_format.name,
+				has_print_format=1,
+				print_format_creation=creation,
+			).insert()
+			self.assertFalse(template.reload().has_print_format)
+			self.assertIsNone(template.print_format_creation)
+			template.has_print_format = 1
+			template.print_format_creation = creation
+			template.save()
+			self.assertFalse(template.reload().has_print_format)
+			self.assertIsNone(template.print_format_creation)
+
+		with self.set_user("test@example.com"):
+			with self.assertRaises(frappe.ValidationError):
+				create_or_update_cheque_print_format(template.name)
+		self.assertEqual(print_format.reload().html, "<h1>Payment remittance advice</h1>")
+
+		frappe.delete_doc("Print Format", print_format.name)
+		with self.set_user("test@example.com"):
+			generated = create_or_update_cheque_print_format(template.name)
+		with self.set_user(manager.name):
+			template.reload()
+			template.payer_name_from_left_edge = 5
+			template.has_print_format = 0
+			template.print_format_creation = None
+			template.save()
+			self.assertTrue(template.reload().has_print_format)
+			self.assertEqual(get_datetime(template.print_format_creation), get_datetime(generated.creation))
+		with self.set_user("test@example.com"):
+			self.assertIn("left: 5.0cm", create_or_update_cheque_print_format(template.name).html)