Now, when most people think of forgery,

they think about signing somebody else's name

to a document.

So I steal a check from the checkbook of Dolores Smith

and I write a check to myself, and I sign her name.

Obviously, I'm not Dolores Smith.

I don't have her permission to do so.

So that's forgery.

And really that's a kind of classic example of forgery.

But under California law, the legal definition of forgery

is really much broader than that.

Forgery is any time you create, use, or alter

a document for the purpose of defrauding others.

So for example, suppose I'm the executor of my dad's will.

And he leaves $100,000.

And it's basically 20,000 to what each of the five children.

But I go and alter the will so that it says 50,000 goes to me,

and the rest is divided among my siblings.

That would be an example of forgery,

even if I don't change the signature itself.

Or if I submit a wrongful workers' compensation claim.

And I assert that I'm injured, when I'm really not.

Or I assert that I have not been working, when really I've

been working under the table.

That would be an example of forgery.

So it's any time that you use a written document

to try to defraud somebody.