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Forgery (also known as "uttering a false instrument") is a serious offense, punishable as a felony in all fifty states and by the federal government. Forgery involves the making, altering, use, or possession of a false writing in order to commit a fraud. It can occur in many forms, from signing another person's name on a check to falsifying one's own academic transcript. When the subject of forgery is currency, it is also called counterfeiting.
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Counterfeiting Laws and Penalties
When good or services appear to originate from a legitimate source but are in fact unauthorized reproductions, the crime of counterfeiting has likely been committed. The offense can include not only creating fraudulent documents and goods, but also altering legitimate items.
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If someone gives me permission to sign their name, have I committed forgery?
Question: My brother just left for a trip to Nepal for several weeks of trekking (it’s on his bucket list). Before he left, he was close to signing a lease on new space for his business.
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Why are some kinds of forgery punished more harshly than others?
Question: My stepson Michael got in with a bad crowd. His buddies convinced him to help them make counterfeit money. Michael tried to use the money to buy something and got caught, of course. His friends got busted too. But, Michael was charged with a higher degree of forgery than the other guys, and
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