Practice Areas
Forgery
Atlanta Forgery Lawyers
What is Forgery?
Forgery in Georgia is defined as the act of creating or altering written documents to deceive others. This can range from simple acts like signing a check with someone else’s name to altering legal documents. Conviction of forgery can lead to significant jail time, hefty fines, and a permanent criminal record.
How serious is a forgery criminal offense?
While children might forge signatures on school-related documents, often facing parental discipline, the consequences for adults forging legal documents are far more severe. The offender’s freedom, financial stability, and reputation can be jeopardized.
Degrees of Forgery Offenses in Georgia
First Degree Forgery
Involves making, altering, or possessing any writing, with the intent to defraud, that purports to be made by someone else or under false authority. This is a felony punishable by one to fifteen years in prison.
Second Degree Forgery
Similar to the first degree but does not require the writing to be presented or delivered. Possession alone can lead to a felony charge, with one to five years imprisonment.
Third Degree Forgery
Applies to checks of $1,500 or more, or possessing ten or more checks, with the same intent to defraud. This is also a felony with one to five years imprisonment.
Fourth Degree Forgery
Concerns checks less than $1,500 or possessing fewer than ten checks. It can be a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on prior convictions, with up to five years in prison.
Forgery Examples:
If someone presents a forged check for example and they are arrested, they could be charged with a first-degree charge for forgery. However, say this person had multiple forged checks, but never ‘used’ them. If arrested and charged, they could be indicted under charges for Second Degree Forgery.
Third and Fourth Degree forgery charges are based on the number of forged checks in the possession of the person.
Penalties for Forgery
Felony or Misdemeanor: The degree of forgery determines whether the offense is a felony or misdemeanor. First to third-degree forgeries are felonies, while the fourth degree can vary.
Why you need an attorney:
Being charged with forgery in Georgia is no walk in the park. It’s a labyrinth of legal complexities that can leave anyone feeling like they’re in over their head.
The burden of proof is on the state, that means they need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person accused of the crime is guilty. There are a few possible defenses to forgery accusations.
Consent:
In certain cases, the actions that appear fraudulent might have been conducted with consent. This defense hinges on demonstrating that the accused had authorization, which may not have been clearly communicated or documented.
Mistaken Identity:
Mistaken identity is a plausible defense in forgery cases. It involves proving that the accused was incorrectly identified as the perpetrator, a situation that is surprisingly more frequent than generally perceived.
Lack of Knowledge:
Unawareness that a document was forged is a legitimate defense. It must be established that the accused had no knowledge, nor should they have reasonably known, about the document’s inauthenticity.
Each of these defenses necessitates a thorough accumulation and presentation of evidence. The ability to effectively argue these points can significantly impact the outcome of a forgery case
Our Practice Areas
Drug Offenses
As soon as you are arrested or discover you are under investigation, the clock is ticking. To ensure the best possible outcome in your drug case, you need to act quickly and hire a criminal defense firm that is experienced, knowledgeable and able to protect your rights during even the toughest litigation.
Appeals
When you decide to launch an appeal, every moment is critical. Criminal statutes have strict time limits on appeals, so you need to act quickly and hire an appellate attorney who is experienced, knowledgeable and willing to efficiently and effectively review the entire court order of your case.
Criminal Defense
At Arora Law, we handle all criminal law cases that include DUI charges, drug charges — from small-quantity possession to large-quantity manufacturing — and white collar crimes such as fraud and forgery.
DUI Defense
A conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) becomes part of a permanent criminal record that follows you for the rest of your life. At Arora Law, we understand that serious offenses such as DUI call for serious litigation.
Expungement
When someone is arrested in Georgia the impact could remain long after the case is closed. If a case is not closed out properly, it could lead to issues with employment, housing, financial loans, educational tuition and the like.
White Collar Crime
At Arora Law, our attorneys have the experience and legal expertise in protecting clients’ rights and reputations when they’ve been charged with white-collar offenses. As former prosecutors, we anticipate how the prosecution will build its case, enabling us to build a strong defense against harsh penalties.
