Florida Statutes 831.04 – Penalty for changing or forging certain instruments of writing
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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Attorney's Note
Under the Florida Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Felony of the third degree | up to 5 years | up to $5,000 |
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 831.04
- 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
- person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01
- writing: includes handwriting, printing, typewriting, and all other methods and means of forming letters and characters upon paper, stone, wood, or other materials. See Florida Statutes 1.01
(1) Any person making any erasure, alteration, interlineation or interpolation in any writing or instrument mentioned in s. 92.28, and made admissible in evidence, with the fraudulent intent to change the same in any substantial manner after the same has once been made, shall be guilty of the crime of forgery, which, for the purposes of this section, constitutes a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(2) Any person who may be in the business of making writings or written entries, maps or plats concerning or relating to lands or real estate, in any county in this state to which said sections apply, and of furnishing to persons applying therefor abstracts or copies of such writing or written entries, maps or plats as aforesaid, for a fee, reward or compensation therefor, and shall make the same with an alteration or interpolation in any matter of substance, with fraudulent intent to alter or change the same in any material manner or matter of substance, shall be guilty of the crime of forgery, and shall be punished as provided in subsection (1).