CALIFORNIA FORGERY LAWS – California Penal Code 470
The California crime of forgery takes place when you knowingly do any of the following, intending to commit a fraud:
- Sign someone else’s name,
- Fake a seal or someone else’s handwriting,
- Change or falsify any legal document (like a will or a deed), or
- Fake, alter, or present as genuine a false document pertaining to money, finances, or property (like a check or a promissory note).
California Penal Code 470 may be charged as a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the circumstances of the crime and your criminal history.
Potential penalties for a misdemeanor California forgery conviction include:
- Up to 1 year in county jail,
- A fine of up to one thousand dollars,
- Informal (also known as summary) probation, and/or
- Payment of restitution to any victims.
If you are charged with felony forgery, the penalties may include:
- 16 months, 2 years or 3 years in prison,
- A fine of up to ten thousand dollars,
- Informal or formal probation, and/or
- Payment of restitution to any victims.
If you or someone you know has been charged with forgery, call the Law Office of William Daley at (619) 238-1905 for a free consultation.
