Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 861 – Forgery; class F felony; class G felony; class A misdemeanor; …
(a) A person is guilty of forgery when, intending to defraud, deceive or injure another person, or knowing that the person is facilitating a fraud or injury to be perpetrated by anyone, the person:
(1) Alters any written instrument of another person without the other person’s authority; or
(2) Makes, completes, executes, authenticates, issues or transfers any written instrument which purports to be the act of another person, whether real or fictitious, who did not authorize that act, or to have been executed at a time or place or in a numbered sequence other than was in fact the case or to be a copy of an original when no original existed; or
(3) Possesses a written instrument, knowing that it was made, completed or altered under circumstances constituting forgery.
Attorney's Note
Under the Delaware Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class F felony | up to 3 years | |
| Class G felony | up to 2 years | |
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 1 year | up to $2,300 |
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 861
- Codicil: An addition, change, or supplement to a will executed with the same formalities required for the will itself.
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. Source: OCC
- Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
- Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
- Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
(b) Forgery is classified and punished as follows:
(1) Forgery is forgery in the first degree if the written instrument is or purports to be:
a. Part of an issue of money, stamps, securities or other valuable instruments issued by a government or a governmental instrumentality; or
b. Part of an issue of stock, bonds or other instruments representing interests in or claims against a corporation, business enterprise or other organization or its property.
Forgery in the first degree is a class F felony.
(2) Forgery is forgery in the second degree if the written instrument is or purports to be any of the following:
a. A deed, will, codicil, contract, release, assignment, commercial instrument, check, or other instrument which does or may evidence, create, transfer, terminate, or otherwise affect a legal right, interest, obligation, or status.
b. A public record, or an instrument filed or required to be filed in or with a public office or public servant.
c. A written instrument officially issued or created by a public office, public servant, or governmental instrumentality.
d. Part of an issue of tokens, tickets, public transportation transfers, certificates, or other articles manufactured and designed for use as symbols of value usable in place of money for the purchase of property or services.
e. A prescription of a duly licensed physician or other person authorized to issue the same for any drug or any instrument or device for which a prescription is required by law.
Forgery in the second degree is a class G felony.
(3) All other forgery is forgery in the third degree, a class A misdemeanor.
(4) If the written instrument is or purports to be provided to an individual by a vaccine provider documenting that an individual has been vaccinated, which bears a government logo or other indication that the written instrument is created by a governmental instrumentality and includes information such as the date an individual received a vaccination and the type of vaccine and lot number, forgery is classified and punished as follows:
a. A first offense by an individual involving a single written instrument under this paragraph (b)(4) is forgery in the third degree, a class A misdemeanor.
b. All other forgery under this paragraph (b)(4) is forgery in the second degree, a class G felony.
(c) In addition to any other penalty provided by law for violation of this section, the court shall require a person convicted of a violation of this section to make restitution to the party or parties who suffered loss as a result of such forgery.
11 Del. C. 1953, § ?861; 58 Del. Laws, c. 497, § ?1; 62 Del. Laws, c. 241, § ?1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 130, § ?8; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § ?1; 83 Del. Laws, c. 498, § 1;