Pennsylvania Forgery Laws

Overview of Pennsylvania Forgery Laws

The crime of forgery, like those of issuing bad checks or false personation, is based on fraud. In Pennsylvania, a person is guilty of forgery if, with intent to defraud or injure anyone, or with knowledge that he or she is facilitating a fraud or injury to be perpetrated by another person, the actor:

• alters any writing of another without that person's authority
• makes, completes, executes, authenticates, issues or transfers any writing so that it purports to (a) be the act of another person who did not authorize that act, (b) to have been executed at a time or place or in a numbered sequence other than was in fact the case, or (c) to be a copy of an original when no such original existed
• utters any writing which he or she knows to be forged in a manner specified above

Although the offender must act with intent to defraud, he or she need not actually defraud or deceive another person to complete the crime. Whether a defendant possesses the requisite "intent to defraud or injure anyone" may be determined from the totality of his or her conduct.

Penalties and Sentences

Pennsylvania classifies basic forgery as a misdemeanor of the first degree. However, such offense will be elevated to a felony of the third degree if the writing is or purports to be a will, deed, contract, release, commercial instrument, or other document evidencing, creating, transferring, altering, terminating, or otherwise affecting legal relations. A bank check is an example of a "commercial instrument" whose forgery would result in such a felony.

A forgery offense will be further elevated to a felony of the second degree if the writing is or purports to be part of an issue of money, securities, postage or revenue stamps, or other instruments issued by the government, or part of an issue of stock, bonds or other instruments representing interests in or claims against any property or enterprise.

Below you will find detailed information about forgery laws in Pennsylvania.

Note: State laws are constantly changing -- please contact a Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

Pennsylvania Criminal Laws Related Resources:

• Pennsylvania Legal Research
• Pennsylvania Code
  
• Sentencing
• Fraud and Financial Crimes

Accused of Violating Pennsylvania Forgery Laws? Get Legal Help

If you've been accused of forgery in Pennsylvania, you'll want a skilled legal advocate on your side. Speak with a local criminal defense attorney who can help explain the laws and how they apply to your specific case. A lawyer can also represent you in plea negotiations and in court, if necessary.