Forgery Laws by State (2026)
How each state charges forgery and the maximum penalties, from each state criminal code.
| State | Forgery |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Forgery means falsely making, completing or altering a written document with intent to defraud. Grades depend on the document: government stamps or securities and corporate stock or bonds are first degree, a Class B felony; deeds, wills, contracts and public records are second degree, a Class C felony; checks, drafts, notes and other commercial instruments are third degree, a Class D felony; any other writing is fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Knowingly possessing or passing ('uttering') a forged document with intent to defraud is a separate crime; for example, for a forged deed, will, contract or public record it is a Class C felony, and for an ordinary forged writing a Class A misdemeanor. Writing a bad check (negotiating a worthless negotiable instrument, expecting it will not be honored) is a Class A misdemeanor. Ala. Code §§ 13A-9-2, 13A-9-3, 13A-9-3.1, 13A-9-4, 13A-9-6, 13A-9-7, 13A-9-13.1 |
| Alaska | Forgery in the third degree is, with intent to defraud, falsely making, completing or altering a written instrument, or knowingly possessing or passing (uttering) a forged instrument; it is a Class A misdemeanor (up to one year, up to $25,000). It is forgery in the second degree, a Class C felony (up to five years, up to $50,000), when the instrument is or appears to be a deed, will, contract, check or other commercial instrument or other document affecting legal rights, or a public record, and forgery in the first degree, a Class B felony (up to 10 years, up to $100,000), for government-issued money, securities or stamps or corporate stock or bonds. Issuing a check knowing it will not be honored is graded by its face amount: a Class B misdemeanor under $250, a Class A misdemeanor from $250 to $749, a Class C felony from $750 to $24,999 and a Class B felony at $25,000 or more. AS 11.46.500, 11.46.505, 11.46.510, 11.46.280; AS 12.55.035, 12.55.125, 12.55.135 |
| Arizona | Forgery (with intent to defraud, falsely making, completing or altering a written instrument, knowingly possessing a forged instrument, or offering or presenting a forged or false one) is a class 4 felony, including for gift cards; it is a class 3 felony if the forged instrument is used to buy, lease or rent a smuggling 'drop house'. Possessing five or more forged instruments allows an inference of intent to defraud. Writing a bad check (knowing there are not enough funds) is a class 1 misdemeanor, but a class 6 felony for a check of $5,000 or more if the full amount with interest and fees is not paid within 60 days after notice. A.R.S. §§ 13-2002, 13-1807 |
| Arkansas | Forgery in the first degree is a Class B felony (5 to 20 years) and forgery in the second degree a Class C felony (3 to 10 years); possession of a forgery device is a Class C felony. Writing bad checks falls under the Arkansas Hot Check Law and is graded by amount. A check of $1,000 or less is an unclassified misdemeanor: a first offense carries a fine of $50 to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both; a second offense a fine of $100 to $1,000, up to 90 days, or both; and a third or subsequent offense a fine of $200 to $2,000, up to 1 year, or both. More than $1,000 up to $5,000 (one check, or several within 90 days totaling that range) is a Class D felony; more than $5,000 but less than $25,000 a Class C felony; and $25,000 or more a Class B felony. Ark. Code §§ 5-37-201, 5-37-209, 5-37-302(b) |
| California | Forgery (Penal Code § 470) includes signing someone else's or a false name without authority, or falsely making or altering a document, with intent to defraud; no one has to actually lose anything. Passing or possessing a fictitious or altered check with intent to defraud is also forgery (§ 476). Forgery can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony: up to 1 year in county jail or 16 months, 2 or 3 years under Penal Code § 1170(h). Forgery of a check, bond, bank bill, note, cashier's check, traveler's check or money order worth $950 or less is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in county jail, unless the person has a prior conviction for certain very serious offenses or must register as a sex offender, or is also convicted of identity theft (§ 473(b)). Writing a check with intent to defraud knowing there are not enough funds is a separate crime (§ 476a) that can be charged either way; if the checks total $950 or less, it is generally punishable only by up to 1 year in county jail, unless the person has specified prior convictions (including three or more prior forgery or bad-check convictions). Cal. Pen. Code §§ 470, 473(a), (b), 476, 476a; CALCRIM Nos. 1900, 1970 |
| Colorado | Forgery (with intent to defraud, falsely making, completing, altering or passing a government security or money, stock, deed, will, contract, commercial instrument, public record, official document, lottery ticket or similar item) is a class 5 felony (1 to 3 years). Forging any other kind of written instrument is second degree forgery, a class 2 misdemeanor. Knowingly possessing a forged instrument of the felony kind with intent to defraud is a class 6 felony. Writing a bad check (fraud by check) is graded by amount: under $300 a petty offense; $300-$999 a class 2 misdemeanor; $1,000-$1,999 a class 1 misdemeanor; $2,000-$4,999 a class 6 felony; $5,000-$19,999 a class 5 felony; $20,000 or more, at least a class 4 felony. C.R.S. §§ 18-5-102, 18-5-104, 18-5-105, 18-5-205(3) |
| Connecticut | Forgery means falsely making, completing or altering a written instrument, or issuing or possessing one known to be forged, with intent to defraud, deceive or injure. Forgery in the third degree (any written instrument) is a Class B misdemeanor; forgery in the second degree (deeds, wills, contracts, public records, government-issued documents, prescriptions and similar instruments) is a Class D felony; forgery in the first degree (government money, stamps or securities, or corporate stocks and bonds) is a Class C felony. Issuing a bad check (knowing there are insufficient funds and payment is refused) is a Class C misdemeanor for $500 or less, Class B misdemeanor over $500 to $1,000, Class A misdemeanor over $1,000 to $2,000, and a Class D felony over $2,000. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-128, 53a-138, 53a-139, 53a-140; Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-35a, 53a-36, 53a-41, 53a-42 |
| Delaware | Forgery means altering, making, issuing or possessing a false written instrument with intent to defraud, deceive or injure. Forgery in the first degree (government money, stamps or securities, or corporate stocks and bonds) is a class F felony; forgery in the second degree (deeds, wills, contracts, checks, public records, government documents, tokens or tickets, or prescriptions) is a class G felony; all other forgery is third degree, a class A misdemeanor. Issuing a bad check (knowing it will not be honored) is a class A misdemeanor, or a class G felony if the check is $1,500 or more. 11 Del. C. §§ 861, 900; 11 Del. C. §§ 4205, 4206 |
| District of Columbia | Forgery in D.C. is making, drawing or uttering (passing) a forged written instrument with intent to defraud or injure. It is punishable by up to 10 years for government money or securities, stock certificates, public records, government documents, payroll checks, deeds, wills, contracts or instruments worth $10,000 or more; up to 5 years for tokens or fare cards, prescriptions for controlled substances, or instruments worth $1,000 or more; and up to 3 years in other cases. Writing a bad check with intent to defraud is a felony (1 to 3 years) if the check is $1,000 or more, and otherwise a misdemeanor (up to 180 days). D.C. Code §§ 22-3241, 22-3242, 22-1510 |
| Florida | Forgery (falsely making, altering or counterfeiting a public record, deed, will, contract, check or promissory note, receipt, or similar document with intent to injure or defraud) is a third-degree felony in Florida, punishable by up to 5 years and $5,000. Uttering a forged instrument (passing it as genuine, knowing it is forged) is also a third-degree felony. Writing a worthless check, knowing there are insufficient funds, is a first-degree misdemeanor, or a third-degree felony if the check is $150 or more and the recipient gave something of value for it. Fla. Stat. §§ 831.01, 831.02, 832.05(2); Fla. Stat. §§ 775.082, 775.083 |
| Georgia | Forgery is making, altering or possessing a writing, knowingly and with intent to defraud, so it appears to be made by someone else, at another time, with different terms or with authority that did not exist. First-degree forgery (a non-check writing that is also uttered or delivered) carries one to 15 years; second-degree (the same without uttering) and third-degree (a check of $1,500.00 or more, or ten or more blank checks) carry one to five years. Fourth-degree forgery (a check under $1,500.00 or fewer than ten blank checks) is a misdemeanor, with a third or later conviction punishable by one to five years. Bad checks (deposit account fraud) are a misdemeanor under $1,500.00 (under $500.00: a fine of not more than $500.00 or up to 12 months, or both; $1,000.00 to $1,499.99: a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature) and a felony at $1,500.00 or more: 'a fine of not less than $500.00 nor more than $5,000.00 or by imprisonment for not more than three years, or both.' O.C.G.A. §§ 16-9-1; 16-9-2; 16-9-20(a), (b) |
| Hawaii | Forgery means falsely making, completing, endorsing or altering a written instrument, or passing (uttering) a forged one, with intent to defraud. Forgery in the third degree (any written instrument) is a misdemeanor; second degree (deeds, wills, contracts, commercial instruments and similar legal documents, or any instrument purportedly made by a person 60 or older) is a class C felony; first degree (government stamps or securities, stocks or bonds, or legal documents purportedly made by a person 60 or older) is a class B felony. Knowingly writing or passing a bad check (negotiating a worthless negotiable instrument) is a misdemeanor. HRS §§ 708-851, 708-852, 708-853, 708-857; HRS §§ 706-660, 706-663, 706-640 |
| Idaho | Forgery is falsely making, altering or counterfeiting a check, contract, deed, note, money or other listed document with intent to defraud, or knowingly passing (uttering) such a forged document as genuine. Forgery is a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than one (1) nor more than fourteen (14) years. Writing a check with intent to defraud knowing there are no funds or credit is a felony (up to three (3) years and/or $50,000). With some but insufficient funds, a check of $250 or more (or a series totaling $250 or more) is the same felony; under $250 is a misdemeanor on a first offense (up to six (6) months and/or $1,000), a misdemeanor up to one (1) year and/or $2,000 on a second, and a felony (up to three (3) years and/or $50,000) on a third or later conviction. Idaho Code §§ 18-3601, 18-3604, 18-3106(a)-(c), (f) |
| Illinois | Forgery is, with intent to defraud, knowingly making or altering a document so it is false and capable of defrauding someone, or issuing, delivering or possessing such a document to pass it, or misusing another person's digital or electronic signature. Forgery is generally a Class 3 felony (2 to 5 years); forging only one price-code label is a Class 4 felony, and forging an academic degree or a coin is a Class A misdemeanor. Writing a bad check knowing it will not be paid is a "deceptive practice": a Class A misdemeanor, but a Class 4 felony when the property obtained exceeds $150 (one check or several within 90 days) or on a second or later bad-check conviction. The person who gets a bad check may also sue for treble damages (at least $100, no more than $1,500) plus fees after a written demand goes unpaid for 30 days. 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a), (d); 720 ILCS 5/17-1(B)(1), (D), (E) |
| Indiana | Forgery is, with intent to defraud, making, uttering (passing) or possessing a written instrument made to look as if it was made by another person, at another time, with different terms, or with authority that was not given. Forgery is a Level 6 felony (6 months to 2.5 years and up to $10,000). Doing the same without intent to defraud (or possessing more than one such instrument) is counterfeiting, also a Level 6 felony. Indiana's separate check-deception statute was repealed in 2021; bad-check schemes are generally charged as fraud. Ind. Code §§ 35-43-5-2(a)-(b), 35-43-5-5 (repealed by P.L.174-2021), 35-43-5-4 (IPAC compilation, Indiana Code 2022) |
| Iowa | Forgery is, with intent to defraud or injure, altering someone's writing without permission, making or issuing a writing that falsely appears to be someone else's act or to be dated or numbered differently, or passing (uttering) or possessing a writing known to be forged. It is a class "D" felony (up to five years) when the writing is or appears to be money, securities, stamps or other government-issued instruments, stock or bonds, a check or draft, immigration or work-authorization documents, or a driver's license, ID card, birth certificate or occupational license; forging a will, deed, contract, release or other legal or commercial document is an aggravated misdemeanor. Writing a check knowing it will not be paid and getting property or services for it is theft, graded by value. Iowa Code §§ 715A.2, 714.1(6), 714.2 (Iowa Code 2026) |
| Kansas | Forgery is, with intent to defraud, making, altering or endorsing a written instrument so it appears to be made or authorized by someone else (real or fictitious), or issuing or possessing such an instrument to pass it. Forgery is a severity level 8, nonperson felony, with added fines and mandatory jail on repeat convictions (at least 30 days as a condition of probation on a second conviction and at least 45 days on a third or later). Giving a worthless check with intent to defraud is a class A nonperson misdemeanor if the check is under $1,000, a severity level 9, nonperson felony from $1,000 to less than $25,000 (or with two prior worthless-check convictions in five years), and a severity level 7, nonperson felony at $25,000 or more. K.S.A. 21-5823, 21-5821 |
| Kentucky | Forgery is falsely making, completing or altering a written instrument with intent to defraud, deceive or injure. Forging money, stamps, securities or stock is forgery in the first degree, a Class C felony (5 to 10 years); forging a deed, will, contract, credit card, commercial instrument, public record or government-issued document is second degree, a Class D felony (1 to 5 years); and any other forged writing is third degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Writing a bad check is charged as theft by deception: the maker is presumed to know a check would not be paid if they had no account, or if it bounced for lack of funds and they did not make it good within 10 days after notice. It is a Class B misdemeanor under $500, a Class A misdemeanor from $500 to under $1,000, a Class D felony from $1,000 to under $10,000, and a Class C felony at $10,000 or more. KRS 516.020, 516.030, 516.040; 514.040(4)(b), (8) |
| Louisiana | Forgery is forging, with intent to defraud, any signature to or part of a writing that purports to have legal effect, or issuing, transferring or possessing with intent to defraud a writing known to be forged. It is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000, imprisonment with or without hard labor for not more than ten years, or both. Writing a bad check is called issuing worthless checks: issuing a check with intent to defraud knowing there are insufficient funds (or that the account is closed or fictitious). It is graded by amount: less than $1,000, up to six months and $500 (up to two years with two prior theft convictions); more than $1,000 to under $5,000, up to five years; $5,000 to under $25,000, up to ten years; $25,000 or more, up to twenty years at hard labor. Failing to pay within ten days after notice of nonpayment is presumptive evidence of intent to defraud. La. R.S. 14:72; R.S. 14:71(A), (C) |
| Maine | Forgery is falsely making, completing, endorsing or altering a written instrument, or knowingly uttering or possessing one, with intent to defraud or deceive. It is a Class D crime, rising to Class C (up to 5 years) when the face value is more than $1,000 but not more than $10,000 or the person has 2 or more prior theft-type convictions, and Class B (up to 10 years) when the face value is more than $10,000. Writing a bad check is negotiating a worthless instrument: intentionally issuing a negotiable instrument knowing it will not be honored. It is a Class E crime, Class D over $500 up to $1,000, Class C over $1,000 up to $10,000 (or with 2 prior theft-type convictions), and Class B over $10,000. 17-A M.R.S. §§ 703, 708, 1604(1), 1704 |
| Maryland | Counterfeiting (forging) a check, deed, will, promissory note, motor vehicle title or other listed document with intent to defraud is a felony punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 10 years, a fine not exceeding $1,000, or both; knowingly possessing a counterfeit with fraudulent intent is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 3 years and $1,000. Issuing or passing a forged document as true (uttering) is a felony with up to 10 years and $1,000. Bad checks: obtaining property or services with a check knowing there are insufficient funds is a misdemeanor under $100 (up to 90 days, $500) or $100 to under $1,500 (up to 1 year, $500), and a felony at $1,500 to under $25,000 (up to 5 years, $10,000), $25,000 to under $100,000 (up to 10 years) or $100,000 or more (up to 20 years). Md. Code, Crim. Law §§ 8-601, 8-602, 8-103, 8-106 |
| Massachusetts | Forgery is falsely making, altering, forging or counterfeiting, with intent to injure or defraud, a public record, deed, will, promissory note, check-like instrument, credit card, stock certificate or other listed writing. It is a felony punishable by up to ten years in state prison or up to two years in jail. Uttering (passing as true a forged or altered document, knowing it is forged) carries the same penalty. Writing a bad check (making or delivering a check with intent to defraud, knowing there are insufficient funds) is charged as attempted larceny, or as larceny if money, property or services are obtained; a refused check is prima facie evidence of intent to defraud unless the writer pays the amount due within two days after notice. M.G.L. c. 267, §§ 1, 5; c. 266, § 37 |
| Michigan | Forgery (falsely making, altering or counterfeiting a public record, will, deed-type document, promissory note, bill of exchange or other listed instrument with intent to injure or defraud) is a felony punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Uttering and publishing (passing a forged instrument as true, knowing it is forged) is also a felony punishable by up to 14 years. Writing a bad check with intent to defraud, knowing there are insufficient funds, is a misdemeanor under $100 (up to 93 days and $500 for a first offense) and $100 to under $500 (up to 1 year); it is a felony punishable by up to 2 years when the check is $500 or more, or when a $100-$499 check follows 2 or more prior convictions. MCL 750.248; MCL 750.249; MCL 750.131 |
| Minnesota | Check forgery (falsely making, altering or endorsing a check with intent to defraud) and offering a forged check are graded by amount: $250 or less, up to 364 days and $3,000; more than $250 up to $2,500, up to five years and $10,000; more than $2,500, up to ten years and $20,000; more than $35,000, up to 20 years and $100,000. Other forgery (such as using a false writing for identification, falsifying business or public records, or destroying evidence) is punishable by up to three years and $5,000. Writing a bad check (issuing a check the person intends will not be paid) is issuing a dishonored check: $250 or less, up to 90 days and $1,000; more than $250 up to $500, up to 364 days and $3,000; more than $500, up to five years and $10,000. Minn. Stat. §§ 609.631, subds. 2-4; 609.63, subd. 1; 609.535, subds. 2, 2a |
| Mississippi | Forgery is graded by value: under $1,000, up to six months in county jail and/or $1,000 (a third offense of at least $500 is punishable by up to three years in the Penitentiary); $1,000 to under $5,000, up to five years and/or $10,000; $5,000 to under $25,000, up to ten years; $25,000 or more, up to twenty years (§ 97-21-33). Writing a bad check under $100 is a misdemeanor (first offense $25-$500 and/or 5 days to six months; second offense $50-$1,000 and/or 30 days to one year); a bad check of $100 or more is a felony with $100-$1,000 and/or up to three years, and any third offense is a felony with one to five years (§ 97-19-67). Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-21-33, 97-19-67 |
| Missouri | Forgery is making, altering or authenticating a writing (or other item such as a receipt or product code) so it falsely appears genuine, or using or passing such an item as genuine, with the purpose to defraud; it is a class D felony (up to 7 years) (§ 570.090). Passing a bad check knowing it will not be paid, or with insufficient funds and failing to pay within ten days after written notice, is a class A misdemeanor, or a class E felony (up to 4 years) if the check or checks total $750 or more within a ten-day course of conduct or the writer had no account with the bank (§ 570.120). RSMo §§ 570.090, 570.120; §§ 558.002, 558.011 |
| Montana | Forgery is knowingly, with purpose to defraud, making or altering a document without authority, passing one knowing it was forged, possessing one to pass it, or possessing forging equipment; it is punishable by a fine up to $1,500, up to 6 months in county jail, or both, and becomes a felony with up to $50,000 and 20 years in state prison if part of a common scheme or if more than $1,500 is obtained or sought (§ 45-6-325). Issuing a bad check knowing it will not be paid carries up to $1,500 and 6 months, or up to $50,000 and 10 years if part of a common scheme or over $1,500; failing to make good within 5 days after written notice is evidence the writer knew (§ 45-6-316). MCA §§ 45-6-325, 45-6-316 |
| Nebraska | Forgery in the first degree (forging government money, stamps or securities, or corporate stock, bonds or bank notes) is a Class III felony (§ 28-602). Forgery in the second degree (falsely making, altering or passing any other legal instrument with intent to deceive or harm) is graded by amount: Class II misdemeanor under $500, Class I misdemeanor $500 to under $1,500, Class IV felony $1,500 to under $5,000, and Class IIA felony $5,000 or more (§ 28-603). Issuing a bad check to obtain property knowing there are insufficient funds is graded the same way by amount, and a second or subsequent misdemeanor-level offense is a Class IV felony (§ 28-611). Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 28-602, 28-603, 28-611; §§ 28-105, 28-106 |
| Nevada | Forgery is falsely making, altering or counterfeiting a deed, check, contract, will, public record or many other listed documents or signatures with intent to damage or defraud, or knowingly passing such a document as genuine; it is a category D felony (1 to 4 years, fine up to $5,000), and the court must order restitution (NRS 205.090, 205.110). Writing a bad check with intent to defraud is a misdemeanor, but a category D felony if the check or checks passed within 90 days total $1,200 or more, or if the person has three prior bad-check convictions (NRS 205.130). NRS 205.090, 205.110, 205.130; NRS 193.130 |
| New Hampshire | Forgery is altering another's writing without authority or making or passing a writing that falsely appears to be someone else's act, with purpose to defraud. It is a class B felony (up to 7 years) if the writing is a government-issued instrument, a check, or stocks, bonds or similar claims; a class A misdemeanor for a fake certificate of insurance; and a class B misdemeanor in all other cases. Knowingly possessing a forgery or forging device is a class B misdemeanor (RSA 638:1). Issuing a bad check is a class B misdemeanor in general, a class A misdemeanor with a conviction in the previous 12 months, a class B felony if over $1,000 up to $1,500, and a class A felony if over $1,500; paying the check and costs within 14 days of notice is a defense (RSA 638:4). RSA 638:1, 638:4; RSA 651:2 |
| New Jersey | Forgery is altering, making or passing ('uttering') a writing — including checks, money, credit cards, access devices, receipts and ID — with purpose to defraud or injure. It is a crime of the third degree if the writing is or purports to be a check, government-issued money, stamps, licenses or instruments, securities, personal identifying information, an access device, a prescription blank, or 15 or more forged retail receipts or UPC labels; otherwise it is a crime of the fourth degree. Passing a bad check (knowing it will not be honored) is graded by amount: under $200 a disorderly persons offense; $200 to under $1,000 fourth degree; $1,000 to under $75,000 third degree; $75,000 or more second degree. N.J.S. 2C:21-1; N.J.S. 2C:21-5 |
| New Mexico | Writing a bad check is called 'issuance of a worthless check' under the Worthless Check Act (NMSA 1978, §§ 30-36-1 to 30-36-9); the Supreme Court's jury instruction calls it fraud by worthless check. The state must prove the person gave a check, received money or something of value for it, knew there would be neither sufficient funds nor credit to pay it in full, and intended to cheat or deceive. The instruction's committee commentary says the act divides the offense into petty offenses and felonies. UJI 14-1670 NMRA; NMSA 1978, §§ 30-36-1 to 30-36-9 |
| New York | Forgery is falsely making, completing or altering a written instrument with intent to defraud, deceive or injure. Forgery in the third degree is a class A misdemeanor (up to 364 days in jail and a fine up to $1,000). It is forgery in the second degree, a class D felony (up to seven years), when the instrument is a deed, will, contract, credit card or similar document affecting legal rights, a public record, an official government document, a token or transfer used in place of money, or a prescription; and forgery in the first degree, a class C felony (up to 15 years), when it is government-issued money, stamps or securities, or corporate stock or bonds. Issuing or passing a check knowing there are insufficient funds and intending that it be dishonored, when it is in fact dishonored, is 'issuing a bad check,' a class B misdemeanor (up to three months and a fine up to $500). N.Y. Penal Law §§ 170.05, 170.10, 170.15, 190.05, 70.00 |
| North Carolina | Forging or counterfeiting an instrument such as a check, note, currency or security, or possessing a counterfeit instrument, with intent to injure or defraud, is a Class I felony; transporting or possessing five or more counterfeit instruments is a Class G felony. Uttering (passing) a forged instrument, or forging an endorsement, is a Class I felony. Writing a worthless check is a Class I felony if the check is more than $2,000; at $2,000 or less it is a Class 3 misdemeanor (1-10 days with no priors, up to 1-20 days, and a fine up to $200; a person with no more than three prior convictions receives a fine only) (a Class 1 misdemeanor on a fourth or later conviction, or if drawn on a nonexistent or closed account). Felony prison terms depend on the class and the person's prior record level under structured sentencing (G.S. 15A-1340.17). N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-119, 14-120, 14-107(d) |
| North Dakota | Forgery or counterfeiting — knowingly falsely making, completing, altering, uttering or possessing a forged writing with intent to deceive or harm — is a class A misdemeanor (up to 360 days in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both) in ordinary cases. It is a class C felony (up to five years, a $10,000 fine, or both) if committed by a public servant or financial-institution employee using their office, involves government or foreign money, is made from plates or dies, purports to be a government writing, or is part of a scheme to defraud of more than $1,000; a class B felony (up to ten years, a $20,000 fine, or both) for government securities or a scheme over $10,000 up to $50,000; and a class A felony over $50,000. Writing a check without sufficient funds is an infraction up to $100, a class B misdemeanor over $100 to $500, a class A misdemeanor over $500 to $1,000, and a class C felony over $1,000, with higher grades for repeat offenders. N.D.C.C. §§ 12.1-24-01, 6-08-16; N.D.C.C. § 12.1-32-01 |
| Ohio | Forgery — with purpose to defraud, forging another's writing without authority, making a spurious writing, or uttering a writing known to be forged — is a felony of the fifth degree (six to twelve months, fine up to $2,500). If property or services or a victim loss of $7,500 to under $150,000 is involved it is a felony of the fourth degree (six to eighteen months, fine up to $5,000), and $150,000 or more a felony of the third degree (a definite term of nine to thirty-six months, fine up to $10,000), with lower thresholds when the victim is elderly or a disabled adult. Passing a bad check (issuing a check with purpose to defraud, knowing it will be dishonored) is a misdemeanor of the first degree (up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine); a fifth-degree felony from $1,000 (single payee) or $1,500 (multiple payees) to under $7,500; a fourth-degree felony from $7,500 to under $150,000; and a third-degree felony at $150,000 or more. R.C. 2913.31, 2913.11; R.C. 2929.14, 2929.18, 2929.24, 2929.28 |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma grades forgery by degree. Forgery in the first degree (for example, forging a will, a deed or a certificate of acknowledgment) is a Class B3 felony punishable by seven (7) to twenty (20) years; forgery in the second degree is a Class D1 felony (up to five (5) years). Passing (uttering) a forged instrument is graded by its value: under One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) is a misdemeanor (up to one (1) year in county jail and/or a fine up to $1,000.00); $1,000.00 to under $2,500.00 is a Class D3 felony; $2,500.00 to under $15,000.00 is a Class D1 felony. Writing bad (bogus) checks is charged as obtaining property by false pretenses: under $1,000.00 is a misdemeanor, and $1,000.00 or more is a felony (Class D3, D1 or C2 by amount); two or more bogus checks totaling Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) or more under a common scheme is also a felony. 21 O.S. §§ 1561, 1592(A), 1621, 1541.1, 1541.2, 1541.3 |
| Oregon | Forgery in the second degree in Oregon is falsely making, completing or altering a written instrument, or passing (uttering) one known to be forged, with intent to injure or defraud; it is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 364 days). It is forgery in the first degree, a Class C felony (up to 5 years), if the instrument is money, securities, stock or bonds, a deed, will, contract, a public record, or a check or credit card slip for $1,000 or more (alone or combined), or if 15 or more retail receipts or product code labels are involved. Writing a check knowing it will not be honored is negotiating a bad check, a Class A misdemeanor, raised to a Class C felony with a bad-check or bad-check theft conviction in the preceding five years. ORS 165.007, 165.013, 165.065; 161.605, 161.615 |
| Pennsylvania | Forgery in Pennsylvania is altering, making or passing a writing (including money, credit cards and electronic signatures) so that it falsely appears authentic, with intent to defraud or injure. It is a felony of the second degree for money, securities, stamps, government instruments, stock or bonds; a felony of the third degree for wills, deeds, contracts, commercial instruments and other documents affecting legal relations; and otherwise a misdemeanor of the first degree. Writing a bad check knowing it will not be honored is a summary offense under $200, a misdemeanor of the third degree from $200 to under $500, a misdemeanor of the second degree from $500 to under $1,000, a misdemeanor of the first degree from $1,000 to under $75,000, and a felony of the third degree at $75,000 or more; a third offense within five years is at least a misdemeanor of the first degree. 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 4101(a), (c), 4105(a), (c) |
| Rhode Island | Forgery and counterfeiting in Rhode Island covers falsely making, altering or forging public records, court papers, deeds, wills, promissory notes, checks or orders for payment, receipts, or any writing evidencing a debt or contract, with intent to defraud, and also knowingly passing (uttering) such a forged document as true. It is punishable by up to ten (10) years in prison, a fine up to $1,000, or both, which makes it a felony. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-17-1, 11-1-2 |
| South Carolina | Forgery in South Carolina includes falsely making, forging or counterfeiting any writing, altering land records, or passing (uttering) a forged writing as true, with intent to defraud. It is a felony punishable by up to ten years if the amount is ten thousand dollars or more, and a felony with up to five years if less; if no dollar amount is involved, it is a misdemeanor punishable by up to three years. Writing a check with intent to defraud when there is no account or not enough money is a separate crime: amounts of one thousand dollars or less are tried in magistrates court (for a first conviction of five hundred dollars or less, a fine of fifty to two hundred dollars or up to thirty days), while larger amounts carry up to two years for a first conviction and up to ten years for a second or later conviction in general sessions court. S.C. Code §§ 16-13-10, 34-11-60, 34-11-90 |
| South Dakota | Forgery in South Dakota is, with intent to defraud, falsely making, completing, or altering any written instrument, or passing any forged instrument. It is a Class 5 felony (up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine). Knowingly passing a check without sufficient funds, with intent to defraud, is theft by insufficient funds check, graded as theft by the face amount of the check (checks within thirty days may be added together). SDCL 22-39-36, 22-30A-24, 22-6-1 |
| Tennessee | Forgery is forging a writing with intent to defraud or harm another. It is punished as theft by value under the theft grading statute, but never lower than a Class E felony (1 to 6 years). Passing a worthless check (knowingly or with fraudulent intent issuing a check for goods, services or other value without sufficient funds) is also punished as theft, using the face amount of the check. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-14-114(a), (c); 39-14-121(a), (f); 39-14-105 |
| Texas | Forging a writing with intent to defraud or harm is a state jail felony; it is a third-degree felony for wills, deeds, mortgages, credit cards, checks, contracts and other commercial instruments, and a second-degree felony for money, securities, stamps and certain government records or instruments. When the forgery was used to get property or services, it is instead graded by value, from a Class B misdemeanor (under $100) to a first-degree felony ($150,000 or more), and one level higher against an elderly person. Writing a bad check (knowing there are insufficient funds) is a Class C misdemeanor, or Class B if the check was for court-ordered child support. Tex. Penal Code §§ 32.21(b)-(e-2); 32.41(a), (f) |
| Utah | Forgery, altering or making a false writing (or passing one) with purpose to defraud, is a third degree felony (up to 5 years and a $5,000 fine). Writing a bad check (knowing it won't be paid, or not making it good within 14 days after notice it bounced) is graded by the total amount within six months: under $500 class B misdemeanor; $500 to under $1,500 class A misdemeanor; $1,500 to under $5,000 third degree felony; $5,000 or more second degree felony. Utah Code §§ 76-6-501(2)-(3); 76-6-505(2)-(3) |
| Vermont | Forging or altering public records, court papers, deeds, wills, checks, promissory notes, stock certificates and other listed documents with intent to injure or defraud is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a $1,000 fine; knowingly passing (uttering) such a forged document carries the same penalty. Writing a check knowing it will not be honored is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year and/or a $1,000 fine, and the court orders restitution if the person can pay. 13 V.S.A. §§ 1801, 1802, 2022 |
| Virginia | Forging a writing to the prejudice of another's rights, or knowingly passing (uttering) a forged writing, is a Class 5 felony (1 to 10 years, or up to 12 months in jail and/or a $2,500 fine); forging public records or official certificates is a Class 4 felony (2 to 10 years). Writing a bad check with intent to defraud, knowing there are insufficient funds, is larceny: a Class 1 misdemeanor if the check is under $1,000 and a Class 6 felony if it is $1,000 or more. Va. Code §§ 18.2-172; 18.2-168; 18.2-181 |
| Washington | Forgery, falsely making, completing or altering a written instrument (or possessing or passing one) with intent to injure or defraud, is a class C felony: up to 5 years and/or a $10,000 fine. Writing a bad check (with intent to defraud, knowing there are insufficient funds) is a class C felony if over $750, and a gross misdemeanor if $750 or less, with mandatory full restitution and a fine of which part cannot be suspended. RCW 9A.60.020; 9A.56.060(1), (4)-(5); 9A.20.021 |
| West Virginia | Forging a writing to the prejudice of another's right, or uttering (passing or trying to use) a forged writing knowing it is forged, is a felony punishable by one to ten years in the penitentiary or, in the court's discretion, up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $500 (forgery of public records and of certain official seals and currency is covered by separate sections). Bad checks: getting money, goods or services with a check while knowing there are not enough funds is a misdemeanor if under $500 (a fine of up to $200, up to six months in jail, or both) and a felony at $500 or more (a fine of up to $500, one to ten years in the penitentiary, or both). Writing a bad check on a preexisting debt is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $200, and for a third or later offense up to ten days in jail may be added. W. Va. Code §§ 61-4-5(a), 61-3-39, 61-3-39a |
| Wisconsin | Forgery is falsely making or altering, with intent to defraud, a writing or object that creates or transfers legal rights or obligations (such as checks or contracts), a public record, or an official certificate, so that it appears to be made by someone else or with different terms or authority. It is a Class H felony (up to 6 years, up to $10,000, or both), as is uttering (passing) or possessing with intent to utter such a forged item knowing it was falsified. Lesser forgeries, such as fake identification or recommendation writings, fake antiques, or counterfeit labels, are Class A misdemeanors. Bad checks: issuing a check of not more than $2,500 intending that it not be paid is a Class A misdemeanor; a single check over $2,500, or checks in a 90-day period totaling over $2,500, is a Class I felony. Wis. Stat. §§ 943.38(1)-(3), 943.24(1)-(2), 939.50(3), 939.51(3)(a) |
| Wyoming | Forgery is, with intent to defraud, altering another's writing without authority, making or issuing a writing that falsely appears to be someone else's act or to have been made at a different time or place, or uttering (passing) a writing known to be forged. It is a felony punishable by up to ten (10) years, a fine of up to $10,000.00, or both (a misdemeanor only for certain permits and mine car numbers). Possessing a forged writing intending to pass it, or possessing forgery equipment, is a felony punishable by up to five (5) years, a fine of up to $5,000.00, or both. Bad checks: knowingly issuing a check that is not paid for insufficient funds (fraud by check) is a misdemeanor (up to six (6) months, up to $750.00, or both) if under $1,000.00, and a felony (up to ten (10) years, up to $10,000.00, or both) if $1,000.00 or more or if two or more checks within 60 days total $1,000.00 or more. W.S. 6-3-602, 6-3-603, 6-3-702 |
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.