Defend Yourself Against a Forgery Charge in NJ
Charged with Forgery In New Jersey?
Protect Your Rights!
A criminal charge of Forgery in New Jersey is a
serious and frightening event in you life. Forgery is a felony level crime under
New Jersey law, so you need to get the best defense lawyer you can to help you.
Whatever happened to you, there are things we can do to
help. If you are falsely accused of something you didn't do, we will fight to
clear your name.
And if you made a mistake at a difficult time in yourself I
understand. you may have been in a bad financial situation and may have made a
bad decision that resulted in your current forgery charges. That doesn't mean
you deserve a harsh punishment.
And most of all, you are innocent until proven guilty.
There may be an explanation to your forgery charges. Most of the time police
officers won’t take the time to listen to you before charging you with a forgery
crime. I can help you sort things out and resolve your charges in the best
possible manner.
What Is Forgery?
According to New Jersey criminal law, forgery is
when you alter a document of someone else without his or her permission or
create a document and say it was created by a fictitious person. It is also
forgery when you create a copy of an original when the original never existed.
(See New Jersey criminal law sec. 21-1)
What Are the Penalties for a Forgery Charge
in New Jersey?
Forgery is a fourth degree criminal charge if you
have a forged document in your possession. This includes any government issued
ID, such as a driver’s license or social security number. A fourth degree
charge could result in up to 18 months in prison.
Forgery is considered to be a crime of the third degree
in all of the following situations:
- The document that was altered or created was money or
directly related to money such as a bond or a postage stamp.
- The document is a check
- 15 or more receipts or UPC bar codes were forged
- You try to use a government ID such as a birth
certificate or driver’s license knowing it was forged.
Charges of the third degree could result in up to 5
years in prison depending on the value of the fraudulent activity and your
criminal history.
It is a second degree charge to make or possess
materials to make a fraudulent government ID such as a driver’s license or
social security card. A second degree charge could result in up to 10
years in prison.
Can you help me Fight a Forgery Charge?
Yes, there are always valid legal defenses, and we can go
over them in a consultation about your case.
If you are being charged with forging a document or
possessing a forged document you need to act quickly. A conviction of forgery on
your criminal history can seriously hinder your ability to find a job. Most
places won’t let you handle money or work in other important aspects of a
business. It can also be difficult to find a place to live.
Don’t let your current charges determine your future. If
you call me for a free consultation I can help you minimize the damage to your
future and give you advice for how to proceed.
Please contact my office to speak to be about these charges. I'll offer you
my legal advice and suggestions as to what your options are, and how I can help.
I look forward to speaking with you.
Sincerely,
J. Matthew Reisig, Attorney at Law
(732) 625-9660
J. Matthew Reisig & Associates
One Broad Street
Freehold, NJ 07728
We represent clients in every criminal court across New Jersey.
A Certified Criminal Trial Attorney in New Jersey
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