Editing Forgery (section)

==Criminal law==
{{expand section|date=August 2012}}

===England and Wales and Northern Ireland===
In [[England and Wales]] and [[Northern Ireland]], forgery is an offence under section 1 of the [[Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981]], which provides:

{{Blockquote|A person is guilty of forgery if he makes a false instrument, with the intention that he or another shall use it to induce somebody to accept it as genuine, and by reason of so accepting it to do or not to do some act to his own or any other person’s prejudice.<ref>[[Legislation.gov.uk]]. [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/45/section/1 Digitised copy of section 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804231616/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/45/section/1 |date=2018-08-04 }}.</ref>}}

"Instrument" is defined by section 8, "makes" and "false" by section 9, and "induce" and "prejudice" by section 10.

Forgery is [[triable either way]]. A person guilty of forgery is liable, on conviction on [[indictment]], to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or, on [[summary conviction]], to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to a fine not exceeding the [[statutory maximum]], or to both.<ref>The [[Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981]], [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/45/section/6 sections 6(1) to (3)(a)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622194323/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/45/section/6 |date=2018-06-22 }}</ref>

For offences akin to forgery, see [[English criminal law#Forgery, personation, and cheating]].

The [[common law offence]] of forgery is abolished for all purposes not relating to offences committed before the commencement of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.<ref>The Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981, [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/45/section/13 section 13] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114094925/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/45/section/13 |date=2012-11-14 }}</ref>

===Scotland===
Forgery is not an official offence under the law of Scotland, except in cases where statute provides otherwise.<ref>W J Stewart and Robert Burgess. Collins Dictionary of Law. HarperCollins Publishers. 1996. {{ISBN|0 00 470009 0}}. Pages 176 and 398.</ref><ref>[[Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia]]</ref>

The [[Forgery of Foreign Bills Act 1803]] was repealed in 2013.

===Republic of Ireland===
In the [[Republic of Ireland]], forgery is an offence under section 25(1) of the [[Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001]] which provides:

{{Blockquote|A person is guilty of forgery if he or she makes a false instrument with the intention that it shall be used to induce another person to accept it as genuine and, by reason of so accepting it, to do some act, or to make some omission, to the prejudice of that person or any other person.<ref>[[Irish Statute Book]]. [https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2001/act/50/section/25/enacted/en/html Digitised copy of section 25] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113212051/https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2001/act/50/section/25/enacted/en/html |date=2022-11-13 }}.</ref>}}

A person guilty of forgery is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or to a fine, or to both.<ref>The [[Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001]], section 25(2)</ref>

Any offence at common law of forgery is abolished. The abolition of a common law offence of forgery does not affect proceedings for any such offence committed before its abolition.<ref>The Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, [https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2001/act/50/section/3/enacted/en/html sections 3(2) and (3)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113212049/https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2001/act/50/section/3/enacted/en/html |date=2022-11-13 }}</ref>

Except as regards offences committed before the commencement of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 and except where the context otherwise requires, without prejudice to section 65(4)(a) of that Act, references to forgery must be construed in accordance with the provisions of that Act.<ref>The Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, [https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2001/act/50/section/65/enacted/en/html section 65(4)(b)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113212050/https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2001/act/50/section/65/enacted/en/html |date=2022-11-13 }}</ref>

===Canada===
Forgery is an offence under sections 366, 367 and 368 of the Canadian [[Criminal Code (Canada)|Criminal Code]].  The offence is a [[Hybrid offence#Canada|hybrid offence]], subject to a maximum prison sentence of:
* if tried [[Summary offence#Canada|summarily]]: 6 months
* if tried [[:wikibooks:Canadian Criminal Law/Offences/Forgery|on indictment]]: 10 years

===United States===
{{Further|Crimes Act of 1790}}
Forgery is a crime in all jurisdictions within the [[United States]], both state and federal.<ref name="United States">''United States v. Hunt'', [https://casetext.com/case/us-v-hunt-74#p1260 456 F.3d 1255] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115030502/https://casetext.com/case/us-v-hunt-74#p1260 |date=2018-11-15 }}, 1260 ([[10th Cir.]] 2006) ("Historically, forgery was defined as the false making, '''with the intent to defraud''', of a [[legal instrument|document]] which is not what it purports to be, as distinct from a document which is genuine but nevertheless contains a term or representation known to be false.") (internal quotation marks omitted) (emphasis added); see generally, {{USC|10|923}} ("Forgery"); {{USC|18|470|514}} (counterfeiting and forgery-related federal offenses); {{USC|18|1543}} ("Forgery or false use of passport").</ref><ref name="Tooby">{{cite web |title=§ 19.71 S. Forgery |url=https://nortontooby.com/node/16998#booktext |publisher=The Law Offices of Norton Tooby |access-date=2018-11-15 |archive-date=2019-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423083009/https://nortontooby.com/node/16998#booktext |url-status=live }}</ref> Most states, including [[California]], describe forgery as occurring when a person alters a written [[document]] "with the intent to defraud, knowing that he or she has no authority to do so."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=470.&lawCode=PEN|title=California Legislative Information, Penal Code section 470|access-date=20 July 2017|archive-date=15 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115030417/https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=470.&lawCode=PEN|url-status=live}}</ref> The written document usually has to be an instrument of legal significance.  Punishments for forgery vary widely. In California, forgery for an amount under $950<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brady|first1=Katherine|title=California Prop 47 and SB 1310: Representing Immigrants|url=https://www.ilrc.org/sites/default/files/resources/ilrc_advisory_prop_47_s_1310_pdf_0.pdf|website=Immigrant Legal Resource Center1|access-date=1 August 2017|date=November 2014|archive-date=1 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801202745/https://www.ilrc.org/sites/default/files/resources/ilrc_advisory_prop_47_s_1310_pdf_0.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> can result in misdemeanor charges and no jail time, while a forgery involving a loss of over $500,000 can result in three years in prison for the forgery plus a five-year "conduct enhancement" for the amount of the loss, yielding eight years in prison.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Couzens|first1=J. Richard|last2=Bigelow|first2=Tricia A.|title=Felony Sentencing After Realignment|url=http://www.courts.ca.gov/partners/documents/felony_sentencing.pdf|website=California Courts|access-date=1 August 2017|date=May 2017|archive-date=1 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801194002/http://www.courts.ca.gov/partners/documents/felony_sentencing.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[Connecticut]], forgery in the Third Degree, which is a class B misdemeanor<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_952.htm#sec_53a-140|title=Chapter 952 - Penal Code: Offenses|website=www.cga.ct.gov|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-09|archive-date=2018-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719173640/https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_952.htm#sec_53a-140|url-status=live}}</ref> is punishable by up to 6 months in jail, a $1000 fine, and probation; forgery in the First Degree, which is a class C felony,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_952.htm#sec_53a-138|title=Chapter 952 - Penal Code: Offenses|website=www.cga.ct.gov|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-09|archive-date=2018-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719173640/https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_952.htm#sec_53a-138|url-status=live}}</ref> is punishable by a maximum 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000 fine, or both.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Norman-Eady|first1=Sandra|last2=Coppolo|first2=George|last3=Reinhart|first3=Christopher|title=Crimes and Their Maximum Penalties|url=https://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-r-0749.htm|website=Office of Legislative Research|publisher=Connecticut General Assembly|access-date=9 August 2017|date=1 December 2006|archive-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019232412/https://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-r-0749.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>