Key Takeaways:

  • Forging or altering a signed document is considered forgery, which is a criminal offense punishable by law.
  • Common types of forgery include signature forgery, prescription forgery, and art forgery.
  • Legal documents commonly forged include tax returns, financial records, immigration papers, and official identification.
  • The intent to deceive or commit fraud is a key factor in classifying an act as forgery.
  • Penalties for forgery include fines, imprisonment, and significant personal and professional consequences.
  • Forging or altering a signed document without permission is illegal and can lead to criminal charges and other serious legal consequences.

Altering documents after signing can lead to numerous consequences. Faking a signature without permission, making a false document, or changing an existing document are all considered to be a forgery. Forgery is a crime and punishable by law. Although penalties will vary from state to state, all fifty states consider forgery to be a felony. Forgery may appear in a variety of documents, such as legal contracts, historical papers, diplomas, licenses, and art objects, to name a few. The most common form of forgery is when a person chooses to sign someone else's name on a check.

Common Types of Documents That Can Be Forged

Tax returns, business and bank account records, immigration documents, and birth certificates are commonly falsified and can be a form of forgery. The term counterfeiting usually refers to the forging of currency or consumer goods. The writing must have significant legal ramification and be false to be considered as a forgery.

This might include the falsification of government-issued documents, such as driver's licenses and passports. Transaction documents are considered to be of legal significance as well; these are documents, such as deeds, grants, and receipts. Financial documents, such as money, checks, and stock certificates are documents that should never be falsified.

Legal and Financial Documents at Risk of Forgery

In addition to the commonly forged documents mentioned, some legal and financial records are more vulnerable to alterations. These include:

  • Legal contracts and agreements: Whether in real estate, employment, or business dealings, modifying signed contracts to change terms or conditions without permission is a serious crime.
  • Wills and trusts: Altering the provisions of a will after it has been signed can result in significant legal battles and accusations of fraud.
  • Financial statements: Business owners, accountants, or individuals who falsify financial records, tax filings, or balance sheets face severe penalties.
  • Loan documents: Forging signatures on loan agreements to misappropriate funds or alter terms is often prosecuted as a form of financial fraud.

These documents have high legal significance, and any alteration or forgery is typically considered a felony in most jurisdictions.

Three Common Types of Forgery

The top three most common types of forgery involve:

  • The act to falsely replicating another person's signature without permission is considered signature forgery.
  • Forging a doctor's name or the information on a prescription in its entirety to get medication is considered prescription forgery.
  • Art forgery is altering an art piece by adding an artist name in order to make it appear as genuine or as an original art piece.

Misrepresenting or altering prices or monetary amounts are acts of forgery. Even stating false information can be an act of falsifying documents when done in a certain context. Using official letterheads without permission and concealing assets in bankruptcy proceedings are all examples of falsifying documents.

Forging Signed Documents: A Crime with Serious Implications

Forgery isn't limited to creating entirely false documents; altering a signed document after it has been executed can also be classified as a crime. Some examples of altering signed documents include:

  • Changing terms in contracts or agreements: After a contract is signed, altering the terms, dates, or monetary amounts without consent is a form of fraud.
  • Modifying legal documents: After someone has signed a will or trust, altering its contents (such as beneficiaries or estate distributions) is a criminal act.
  • Falsifying financial records: Adjusting balances or adding information to financial documents like tax filings or loan applications after they've been signed is considered forgery.

These actions typically involve both criminal liability (such as charges of fraud or larceny) and civil consequences (like lawsuits for damages or breach of contract).

What Is Forgery?

To be considered a crime of forgery, there must be an intent to deceive or commit fraud or larceny. If a person is not aware that they possess a document or item that has been forged or falsified, then they are considered innocent.

Let's say a person provides a service and receives a check for a payment and the check is a forged check. The service provider can cash the check and is innocent, as long as he or she has no knowledge of the check's forgery. If upon receiving the check, the service provider was told or learned of the check's forgery and then willfully cashes the check, he or she is considered to have committed a crime.

Most states consider forgery to be a serious offense and classify it as a felony. Each state will vary in penalties for the crime. A monetary fine and or incarceration are two common penalties for forgery. The degree of forgery committed and the penalty is most often dependent on the forged instrument or the intent of the forgery.

For example, the state of Connecticut considers the forgery of symbols a crime. This includes any token that is used to purchase items or services other than money. Another example can be seen in Georgia, where any adult who uses a fake I.D. to obtain a job risks going to prison for up to 15 years and is required to pay a fine of $250,000.

Legal Definition of Forging a Signed Document

Under the law, the act of altering a signed document after it has been executed is a form of forgery, which involves the intent to deceive or gain an unlawful benefit. This includes situations where someone changes a signed document's content or falsely adds a signature without consent. Even if the original document wasn't forged, modifying it after signing can still be illegal if it involves misrepresentation or fraud.

Whether the altered document was a contract, tax return, or financial record, if the intention was to deceive or commit fraud, it can lead to criminal charges. The legal consequences are similar to those for committing forgery on an entirely falsified document and can include both civil suits and criminal prosecution.

What Are Additional Consequences for Forgery?

It is important to understand that in addition to legal ramifications, like having to pay a fine and possibly being incarcerated, there are other consequences that a person may face if they decide to commit forgery. For example, a person may:

  • Lose employment
  • Find it difficult to obtain employment
  • Receive a reduction in one's personal credit score
  • Not be eligible for immigration proceedings
  • Not be able to obtain a passport
  • Be audited by the IRS on a regular basis

If you happen to own your own business and you are convicted of committing forgery, you will need to hire an attorney to help you get the most favorable outcome. In fact, this applies to anyone who has committed forgery or is being charged with forgery or possession of a stolen instrument. Because the consequences are so harsh for these crimes, you will need a criminal defense attorney to present a strong case of defense to ensure the best possible outcome is obtained.

Long-Term Consequences of Altering Signed Documents

The legal consequences of altering signed documents go beyond immediate penalties such as fines and imprisonment. Individuals convicted of altering signed documents may face additional long-term effects, including:

  • Employment challenges: A conviction for document alteration or forgery can lead to the loss of current employment and make it harder to secure future employment, especially in industries that require trust and integrity.
  • Professional license revocation: Individuals with professional licenses, such as attorneys, doctors, or accountants, may have their licenses revoked if convicted of altering signed documents.
  • Damage to personal reputation: Being convicted of altering a signed document often results in a permanent criminal record, which can damage an individual's personal and professional reputation.
  • Financial hardship: In addition to fines and possible restitution, individuals convicted of document alteration may find themselves dealing with ongoing financial instability due to legal costs, loss of income, or increased scrutiny from financial institutions.

FAQ Section:

  1. Is it illegal to alter a signed document?
    Yes, altering a signed document is illegal and considered forgery, which is a serious crime with significant legal consequences.
  2. What types of documents can be forged?
    Commonly forged documents include contracts, wills, financial records, tax returns, and official identification documents like driver's licenses and passports.
  3. What happens if I alter a signed contract?
    If you alter a signed contract without the other party's consent, it is considered forgery and can lead to criminal charges, including fraud.
  4. Can altering a will after it’s signed be considered forgery?
    Yes, altering a will or trust after it has been signed is considered a criminal act and is punishable by law.
  5. What penalties can I face for altering a signed document?
    Penalties for altering a signed document can include criminal fines, imprisonment, professional consequences, and civil lawsuits.

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