As forgery is a felony offense, charges of forgery are extremely serious. Felonies cause highly significant repercussions in the life of the defendant, which is why indictments of forgery must be addressed immediately. Forgery is a criminal offense in which a person purposefully deceives another party using dishonest means to achieve some sort of personal gain. Usually the perceived gain is money-related, although that may not always be the case. Examples of forgery include making or using counterfeit money, signing someone else's name on a document without the expressed permission of that person, or changing documents without explicit authorization.
If you have been charged with check forgery, you could be required to pay a substantial monetary reimbursement. Prescription forgery, in which a person who is not medically approved gives a prescription to someone else, can result in significant criminal charges. Another form of forgery that has persisted for many years is art forgery, in which a person claims to be the artist of a creation that is extremely similar to another creation completed by a person who is now deceased. Although the artistic creations may not be exactly the same, the differences are too minute to be noticeable.
Just as forgery can take on many different forms, so also can its penalties. The penalties can produce significant challenges for the victim down the road, and you do not want to have to shoulder those difficulties. For that reason, it is of the utmost importance that you seek the representation of an aggressive and trusted local criminal defense attorney. Since forgery most often occurs for some monetary gain, the defendant is usually required to compensate the loss completely. In addition to restoring whatever monetary value was lost, the person could receive steep fines. This monetary pressure can put great stress on a person financially, resulting in other rebounding complications.
Monetary penalties aside, a defendant could also face a prison sentence. As forgery often occurs in concert with other crimes, the prison sentence may be more related to the other offenses than forgery itself, and the term often depends on the extent of the crime(s) the defendant is convicted for. Other consequences that a defendant may face are community service or probation. Although the individual may be placed on probation instead of serving a prison term, he or she will be placed under certain restrictions which must be carefully followed. While probation and community service may initially seem like better options than serving in prison, it is important to note that they both are accompanied by strict guidelines which must be faultlessly observed.
As with all criminal charges, if you have been charged with forgery, you should not hesitate to secure the assistance of a criminal defense attorney near you. Felony charges can incur far-reaching penalties that could have life-long consequences, and you should be aware of the fact that with the right kind of criminal defense, you may not have to bear those hardships. Due to the nature of criminal charges, if you are facing such indictments, it is of the utmost importance that you do not delay in obtaining professional legal assistance from a lawyer you can trust.
In addition to steep monetary fines and lengthy prison sentences, criminal charges can result in the revocation of certain privileges. You must not settle for accepting those charges when a competent lawyer is prepared to take on your case and fight tirelessly on your behalf. Instead, be proactive and secure the help you need. It could make all the difference for your future. Your criminal charges don't need to govern your life; start down the pathway to success today!
