Forgery is the criminal offense of making or uttering a false document or other instrument with the intent to defraud or harm someone—including a written or printed document, money, coins, tokens, stamps, checks, cashier’s checks, bonds, money orders, traveler’s checks, real property deeds, contracts, stock certificates, lottery tickets, wills, seals, credit cards, badges, trademarks, and symbols of value, right, privilege, or identification. Uttering a document means to declare—either directly or indirectly, and through words or actions—that the document is legitimate and what it purports to be.

Forging a document includes altering, making, completing, executing, or authenticating a writing so it purports (1) to be the act of another who did not authorize that act; (2) to have been executed at a time or place or in a numbered sequence other than was in fact the case; or (3) to be a copy of an original when no such original existed.

Forging a document also includes the acts of issuing, transferring, registering the transfer of, recording, passing, publishing, or otherwise uttering a document that is forged. And in some states the mere possession of a forged document with the intent to utter it constitutes forging a document.

The definitions, penalties, and punishments for the crime of forgery vary from state to state and are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Indiana, forgery is a criminal offense that involves the creation, alteration, or use of a false document with the intent to commit fraud or harm. This includes a wide range of documents such as checks, contracts, legal certificates, and identification cards. The act of uttering a forged document refers to presenting or using that document as if it were genuine. Indiana law considers both the act of forging and the act of uttering forged documents as part of the forgery offense. Under Indiana Code 35-43-5-2, forgery is typically classified as a Level 6 felony, which can result in a range of penalties including imprisonment and fines. The severity of the punishment can vary based on the circumstances of the case, such as the type of document forged and the value involved. Additionally, simply possessing a forged document with the intent to use it can also constitute forgery in Indiana. It is important for individuals accused of forgery to consult with an attorney to understand the specific charges and potential defenses available to them under Indiana law.