Camden County NJ Forgery Lawyer

Criminal Defense Attorney with Offices in Collingswood, New Jersey 

Forgery is a common offense in New Jersey that carries some serious consequences such as jail time, thousands in fines, probation, and community service. Further, a person charged with forgery is typically also charged with other related crimes such as credit card fraud and theft by deception. This is why you will need an aggressive and experienced defense attorney if you have been charged with forgery

The criminal defense team at the the Law Offices of Leonard Biddison defends clients charged with theft related offenses such as burglary, credit card fraud, and robbery in Camden County including Cherry Hill, Gloucester, Winslow, and Somerdale. With almost 40 years of combined experience, our defense attorneys know what it takes to help get you the most desirable result in your forgery case. In fact, one of our attorneys has handled countless theft related cases and has been featured in the Daily Record from Morris County as a result of his success in several of these cases. This sort of expertise can be extremely valuable in your case. The Law Offices of Leonard Biddison are available anytime for a free initial consultation to speak with you about your case. Call us today at 877-450-8301..

Forgery in New Jersey: N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1

In New Jersey, forgery is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1. It states that a person is guilty of forgery if, with purpose to defraud or injure anyone, or with knowledge that he is facilitating a fraud or injury to be perpetrated by anyone, the actor:

(1) Alters or changes any writing of another without his authorization;

(2) Makes, completes, executes, authenticates, issues or transfers any writing so that it purports to be the act of another who did not authorize that act or of a fictitious person, 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 such original existed; or

(3) Utters any writing which he knows to be forged in a manner specified in paragraph (1) or (2)

“Writing” includes printing or any other method of recording information, money, coins, tokens, stamps, seals, credit cards, badges, trademarks, access devices, and other symbols of value, right, privilege, or identification, including retail sales receipts, universal product code (UPC) labels and checks. This section shall apply without limitation to forged, copied or imitated checks.

Degrees of Forgery in New Jersey 

Third Degree:  if the writing is or purports to be part of an issue of money, securities, postage or revenue stamps, or other instruments, certificates or licenses issued by the government, New Jersey Prescription Blanks as referred to in R.S.45:14-14, or part of an issue of stock, bonds or other instruments representing interest in or claims against any property or enterprise, personal identifying information or an access device. Forgery is a crime of the third degree if the writing is or purports to be a check. Forgery is a crime of the third degree if the writing is or purports to be 15 or more forged or altered retail sales receipts or universal product code labels.

Otherwise forgery is a crime of the fourth degree.

Note: A person can also be guilty of possession of forgery devices when with purpose to use, or to aid or permit another to use the same for purposes of forging written instruments, including access devices and personal identifying information, he makes or possesses any device, apparatus, equipment, computer, computer equipment, computer software or article specially designed or adapted to such use. This is a third degree crime.

Note: If you do not have a prior criminal record, third degree forgery has a presumption of non-incarceration. Fourth degree forgery also has a presumption of non-incarceration. Therefore, you may get  probation or the Pre-Trial Intervention Program if you have no prior convictions and are charged with third degree or fourth degree forgery. 

Contact a Cherry Hill NJ Forgery Attorney for a Free Consultation 

The criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Leonard Biddison are always available to speak with you about your case and begin to formulate an aggressive strategy to defend you against your forgery charge. Our criminal defense team understands the details of theft law in New Jersey and we will use this knowledge to help you best defend against these charges. Call us today at 877-450-8301 for a free initial consultation about your case.