California forgery overview – California penal code 470

Forgery Overview: California Penal Code Section 470

The crime of forgery occurs when you knowingly create, alter, or use a written document with the intent to defraud others for your own benefit. For the purposes of this crime, the types of written documents that can be forged include everything from wills, to licenses, to bank checks, to contracts, to even certificates of ownership. See California Penal Code Section 470(d).

Under California Penal Code Section 470, forgery is committed when you have the intent to defraud and you knowingly:

1. Sign the name of another person or of a fictitious person without the authorization to do so;
2. Counterfeit or forge the seal or handwriting of another;
3. Alter, corrupt, or falsify any testamentary will, codicil, conveyance, or other document in which a person expresses how they want their property distributed after they die; OR
4. Use, publish, pass or attempt to pass as true and genuine, documents that you know to be falsified, altered, or forged.

A conviction for forgery requires the prosecution to prove that you knowingly committed any of the above acts with the intent to commit fraud.

If convicted of forgery, you can face either misdemeanor or felony penalties. A misdemeanor conviction may result in imprisonment in county jail for up to one year. If charged as a felony offense, forgery may result in imprisonment in state prison for a period of up to three years.

There are ways to defend against a forgery charge. An experienced forgery lawyer can raise certain defenses on your behalf that will work to either reduce the charges or dismiss them altogether. A forgery charge can be negated by showing either a lack of an intent to defraud or the unlikelihood that the falsified document would actually defraud anyone out of money or other benefits.

A conviction for forgery can bring with it severe punishments, so if you find yourself facing allegations that you have falsified documents to defraud others, do not hesitate to contact an experienced forgery attorney. At Wallin & Klarich, our attorneys have over 30 years of experience handling forgery cases and providing our clients with the best possible results. Call us today at 888-749-0034.