Miami, Florida Forgery Lawyer

Attorney Defending Against Charges of Forgery or Counterfeiting in Miami

When someone is accused of falsely making, altering, or counterfeiting documents with the intent to commit fraud, they could be charged with forgery. These offenses may involve a wide range of conduct, including signing another person's name on a legal document without permission, creating false identification documents, altering checks, or creating false legal documents. The consequences of forgery can be serious, and defending against these charges will require assistance from an attorney who understands the legal issues involved in these cases.

At Stroleny Law: Criminal Defense Attorney, we provide comprehensive legal representation for people facing charges of forgery or other white collar crimes. Our lawyer can address misunderstandings about authorization, disputed signatures, or situations where defendants believed they had permission to sign documents. He will investigate these cases thoroughly to gather evidence and present defenses against criminal convictions.

How Florida Law Defines Forgery

Under Florida Statutes § 831.01, a person could be charged with forgery based on accusations that they created false documents or altered existing documents, including certificates, public records, checks, wills, deeds, or other legal documents or commercial instruments.

In forgery cases, the documents in question must have legal significance, and a person may be charged with a crime if they allegedly acted with the intent to injure or defraud a person or organization. Forgery charges are usually classified as third-degree felonies, and convictions could lead to penalties that may include a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

Documents Commonly Involved in Forgery Cases

Financial instruments are often involved in forgery cases. People may be accused of forging signatures on stolen checks, altering payee names or amounts on checks, or creating entirely counterfeit checks. These cases may involve employees who have access to company checks, people who steal checks from mailboxes, or people who have allegedly obtained blank checks through theft or fraud.

Credit card receipts and signatures can lead to forgery charges in some cases. Sales clerks or others may be accused of forging customers' signatures on transaction slips. People may be charged with using stolen credit cards and forging signatures when making payments.

Legal documents such as contracts, deeds, powers of attorney, and wills may be involved in forgery cases. Real estate fraud cases may involve forged signatures on deeds, forged notarizations, or altered mortgage documents. Estate disputes may involve accusations that wills or trusts were forged or that signatures were obtained through coercion.

Forgery charges may also involve government identification documents, including driver's licenses, passports, Social Security cards, and immigration documents. People who are accused of creating fake IDs, forging immigration documents, or altering driver's licenses may face serious criminal charges.

Court documents and legal filings can be forged. A person could be accused of signing an attorney's name to court documents without authorization, creating false court orders, or forging judges' signatures. These offenses can be particularly serious, since the legal system may treat this type of forgery harshly.

Medical prescriptions may be forged by people who are trying to obtain controlled substances for their own use or as part of a drug distribution enterprise. Altering prescription forms to increase quantities, forging the signatures of doctors, or creating false prescriptions could lead to forgery charges as well as drug charges.

Defense Strategies in Forgery Cases

Our attorney can help address charges of forgery by demonstrating that a person acted lawfully and did not intend to commit fraud. He may demonstrate that a person had authorization to sign documents by presenting evidence showing that they had permission to sign another person's name, that they had been granted power of attorney, or that they reasonably believed they had authority based on previous practices or relationships.

When forgery charges are related to business transactions or relationships, our lawyer can take steps to demonstrate that signing practices were informal and that a person's authority to sign was understood, even if it was not formally documented. Evidence of previous instances where a person signed documents without objections can support arguments that authorization existed.

Our lawyer can also challenge whether documents were actually forged. Handwriting analysis may show that signatures are genuine, that alterations were made by someone other than our client, or that the prosecution's witnesses incorrectly identified the person who signed documents.

It may also be possible to show that the alleged victims were not harmed by a person's actions. If documents were never used or if there was no financial loss, an offense may not be considered to be forgery.

Protecting the Rights of People Charged With Forgery

When you face forgery charges, our attorney can investigate the case and gather evidence that can be used to challenge the prosecution's claims. He will obtain copies of the documents that were allegedly forged, take steps to determine who created or altered them, and address issues related to authorization and intent.

Handwriting analysts may examine documents and provide opinions about their authorship. These specialists can identify whether signatures were forged or whether alterations were made by someone other than our client. Our lawyer may also interview witnesses who can testify about the authorization to sign a document, the business practices of the parties involved in a case, and the circumstances surrounding the creation of documents.

Our attorney can file pretrial motions challenging the admissibility of evidence, the reliability of handwriting comparisons, and other issues involved in a case. He can negotiate with prosecutors, presenting evidence that demonstrates that a person had authorization to sign documents or showing a lack of fraudulent intent.

If a case proceeds to trial, our lawyer will present defenses that challenge claims of forgery. He can cross-examine witnesses, present evidence demonstrating that a person acted legally, and make persuasive arguments about reasonable doubt. His goal is to prevent a conviction through an acquittal or the dismissal of charges.

Contact Our Miami, FL Forgery Attorney

At Stroleny Law: Criminal Defense Attorney, we have the knowledge and experience needed to defend against forgery charges. With his skill in analyzing evidence and his ability to develop effective defenses, our attorney can help you determine the best steps to take to resolve your case successfully. Contact our Miami forgery and counterfeiting defense lawyer at 305-615-1285 to arrange a free consultation and get help protecting your rights.