what if a lawyer forged someone forges your signature

by Mrs. Jacinthe Adams 6 min read

If somebody forged your signature, you need to consult a forgery attorney right away and explain your situation. A forgery attorney will have the experience, resources, and knowledge to be able to analyze your unique situation and determine what your options are and how best to prove your forgery.

Full Answer

What happens if someone forges your signature?

It depends on what they forged. If they forged a legal contract versus say signing up for a service the answers will be different. First, assuming they forged the signature on a document that obligates you to a contract, payment, etc. Contact the company that you are now obligated to and explain the situation.

What is signature forgery and how can you avoid it?

Proving that the signature is forged is extremely difficult and under certain circumstances a person trying to execute a will can lawfully have someone do it for them by directing the lawyer to do so in the presence of the witnesses (for example, if your father's hand was shaking too much to make it possible for him to sign his name due to a condition like Parkinson's disease).

What happens if you forge a contract?

 · Forged signature crime is considered serious and is punishable, thus the intensity of the felony. Just forging a signature on a legal document isn’t the only type of forgery, but the act of copying art and selling it by claiming it is original, by altering doctor’s prescriptions, and by identity theft a person is committing a serious offence.

Did the person who signed my name commit forgery?

Here are some of the most common reasons to pursue legal action for a forged signature: If the forgery of your signature caused financial damage, then you have the right to sue the offender. Damages can be from the forgery of a check, loan, or other legal document that is in your name and requires repayment.

Can you sue someone for a forgery?

Forgery is actionable as both a civil and a criminal matter. You can sue someone for money damages for committing a forgery. For example, someone changes another person’s will so they get more money and you get less or none; or someone forges a check.

Is a forgery a felony?

In my state a person commits a Forgery, which is a felony, if, with the purpose to defraud, the person: (1) Makes, completes, alters or authenticates any writing so that it purports to have been made by another or at another time or place or in a numbered sequence ot. Continue Reading.

What is the crime of forgery?

The crime of forgery generally refers to the making of a fake document, the modification of an existing document, or the unauthorized signing of a signature without authorization. Forgery involves a false document, signature, or other imitation of an object of value used with the intent to deceive another.

What is the most common form of forgery?

The most common form of forgery is signing someone else's name to a check. Objects, data and documents can also be forged. Legal contracts, historical papers, art objects, diplomas, licenses, certificates and identification cards can be forged.

Can you sue someone for money damages?

You can sue someone for money damages for committing a forgery. For example, someone changes another person’s will so they get more money and you get less or none; or someone forges a check. In my state a person commits a Forgery, which is a felony, if, with the purpose to defraud, the person:

Is counterfeiting a crime?

Currency and consumer goods can also be forged, but this crime is usually referred to as counterfeiting. Forgery Requires Deception. In most jurisdictions, the crime of forgery is not charged unless the forgery is done with the intent to deceive or with the intent to commit an attempted fraud or larceny.

Detecting a forged signature

Forged signatures are one of the most common types of cases received at the Laboratory. Forgeries occur on all different types of documents from Wills, employment contracts, checks, and all types of financial documents. Any document that relates to something of value is at risk of being altered, manipulated or may contain forged signatures.

Detection for forged documents

In regard to forged signatures, they usually exhibit at least one common difference to genuine signatures. The forged documents appear slowly prepared with a hesitating quality in areas of the signature that should be freely prepared.

Cut and Paste forgeries

Sometimes a signature is “cut and pasted” onto a document. In this case, the signature may appear natural but there may be other evidence surrounding the “cut and paste” to indicate otherwise.

Contact a Document Expert

If you suspect your signature has been forged, contact a document examiner to conduct a signature examination. A document examiner will request a good quality copy of the “forged” document and many comparable signatures prepared around the same time period.

Is a forged signature a crime?

However, when one of the signatures is forged on a contract, certain legal actions may be taken. When an individual creates a false document or alters a legitimate contract with the intent to be fraudulent, then this is considered forgery and is usually considered a crime. A number of criminal statutes require the individual making ...

Is it a crime to forged a contract?

When an individual creates a false document or alters a legitimate contract with the intent to be fraudulent, then this is considered forgery and is usually considered a crime.

What are the elements of a contract?

There are certain elements required in a contract in order for it to be valid. These include: 1 An offer: A manifestation of intent to enter into and establish a contract is called an offer. 2 Acceptance: Consent to the terms of a contract is referred to as acceptance. 3 Material items: Specifications should be clarified such as the price, nature, and identification of the contract. These are referred to as material items. 4 Consideration: This is typically defined as offering something of value from one party to the other, normally by committing one promise for another.

What is legal signature?

Legal signatures are completed through the means of writing or the use of a machine or device. It may consist of any mark, word, or symbol that has been adopted by a person who has the intention to authenticate a document of writing. If a person signs a contract without the other party's consent, the signature does not bind the document or contract.

What are material items?

Material items: Specifications should be clarified such as the price, nature, and identification of the contract. These are referred to as material items. Consideration: This is typically defined as offering something of value from one party to the other, normally by committing one promise for another.

What is the UCC?

The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) is an act that has been put into law which governs commercial transactions and the sale of goods. It states that an individual is only bound on an instrument if they have personally signed it or had a representative sign it upon their request.

Commonly Forged Documents

While checks are the forged document most people are aware of, there are many other types of documents and instruments that are commonly forged and counterfeited.

Penalty for Forgery

How much money was to be gained through the forgery is the main factor in determining a penalty for the crime. A forgery that was intended to gain the forger thousands of dollars or more will carry much stiffer penalties than a forged $100 check.