Free consultation. Same-day case review.

Forgery

Forgery in Nevada is usually charged as a Category D felony under NRS 205.090. The charge covers creating, altering, possessing, or presenting a fake document — and it comes up in a lot of different situations, from bad checks to altered IDs. Intent is everything, and that's where the defense starts.

Online Scheduling

Button rotates automatically on each page load.

NRS 205.090Nevada · Category D Felony (typical)

Forgery

Nevada's forgery statute covers falsely making, altering, or forging a document with intent to defraud — and also knowingly passing or using a forged document as if it were genuine. The charge applies to checks, contracts, IDs, court records, prescriptions, and a wide range of other instruments.

Statute

Forgery of instruments (NRS 205.090)

Charge level

Category D Felony (typical)

Prison exposure

1 to 4 years

Defense focus

Intent to defraud, knowledge, authorization, identity

Key statutory language (abridged)

NRS 205.090 prohibits falsely making, altering, forging, or counterfeiting a document with intent to defraud, and also covers knowingly passing or using such a document as genuine. The statute applies to a broad range of documents including financial instruments, legal papers, government records, and identification. Related charges — possession of forged instruments (NRS 205.110), obtaining money by false pretenses…

Nevada Legislature statute

How charges typically arise

Example fact patterns

Examples of factual situations prosecutors commonly rely on when filing charges. These are simplified summaries, details matter.

ForgeryWhat gets charged as forgery in Nevada

Altered checks or financial documents

Changing the amount on a check, altering payee information, or forging a signature on a financial instrument are among the most common forgery charges. These cases often involve bank records, handwriting comparisons, and surveillance footage.

Fake IDs or altered identification

Using or possessing a forged driver's license, state ID, or other government-issued document can be charged as forgery. This comes up in underage situations but also in identity fraud and employment fraud cases.

Forged contracts or legal documents

Signing someone else's name on a contract, deed, or legal agreement — even if you thought you had permission — can lead to a forgery charge. These cases often turn on what you knew and whether actual fraud occurred.

Presenting a document you knew was fake

You don't have to be the one who created the forged document to be charged. If you knowingly used or presented it — cashed a check, submitted a document — the state may charge you with forgery even if someone else made it.

How to read this

These are common charging narratives, not determinations of guilt. Real cases turn on evidence quality, context, and credibility.

Defense playbook

Examples of defenses

Short, plain-English examples of defenses we look for. The right defense depends on the facts, the evidence, and how the case was built.

ForgeryWhere the defense usually lives

No intent to defraud

Forgery requires intent — the state has to prove you acted deliberately to deceive someone. If the alteration was a mistake, a misunderstanding, or you had a reasonable belief the document was legitimate, that goes directly to the core element of the charge.

You didn't know the document was forged

Passing someone else's bad check without knowing it was fake is not forgery. If you received the document from a third party and had no reason to know it was fraudulent, knowledge becomes a critical defense issue.

You had authority to sign

Signing someone's name with their permission — even informally — is a defense. Verbal authorization, prior practice, agency relationships, and context can all support the argument that the signature was not unauthorized.

Mistaken identity

Handwriting analysis, surveillance footage, and digital records aren't always definitive. If the state's identification evidence is weak or ambiguous, that can be challenged.

How to use this

These are common defense themes, not legal advice for your case. The value is in comparing the allegations to the evidence and spotting what is missing, unclear, or contradicted.

Penalties overview

Potential penalties

A simplified overview of common penalty ranges. The real exposure depends on charge level, priors, enhancements, and how the case is filed.

ForgeryWhat you're looking at if convicted

Charge level

Category D Felony (typical)

Most forgery charges in Nevada are Category D felonies. Some circumstances can push it higher or lower depending on the document and alleged value.

Prison exposure

1 to 4 years

Category D felony sentencing in Nevada state prison. Actual outcome depends on record, facts, and how the case resolves.

Fine

Up to $5,000

Fines may be imposed in addition to or instead of prison.

Restitution

Often ordered

If the forgery caused financial harm, courts typically order restitution to the victim as part of the sentence.

Collateral consequences

Employment, licensing, background checks

A felony forgery conviction shows up on background checks and can disqualify you from jobs involving financial responsibility or professional licensing.

Important

Penalties can shift based on priors, alleged injury, and how the case is filed. A reliable range requires the exact charge, the complaint, and criminal history.

What Nevada law actually covers

NRS 205.090 defines forgery broadly. It covers anyone who, with intent to defraud, falsely makes, alters, forges, or counterfeits a document — or who knowingly passes, publishes, or attempts to use a forged document as if it were genuine.

The statute covers a wide range of documents: checks, promissory notes, contracts, deeds, wills, court records, certificates, IDs, prescriptions, and more. The common thread is intent — the state has to prove you meant to deceive someone, not just that a document had an error or discrepancy.

Related charges often filed alongside forgery include obtaining money by false pretenses (NRS 205.380), possession of forged instruments (NRS 205.110), and identity theft (NRS 205.463). Cases with multiple charges require a defense that looks at the whole picture, not just one count.

Creating vs. possessing vs. using a forged document

Nevada's forgery statute doesn't require that you personally created the fake document. Knowingly possessing a forged instrument with intent to use it, or actually presenting it as genuine, can both support a forgery charge.

This matters because it means people who receive forged documents from others — in a chain of fraud — can end up charged even if they weren't the originator. The defense in those cases focuses heavily on what you knew and when you knew it.

Check and financial instrument forgery

Check forgery is one of the most commonly charged forms. This includes forging the maker's signature, altering the payee or amount, or endorsing a check without authority. Banks typically cooperate fully with prosecutors in these cases and provide extensive records.

The value of the instrument often drives how seriously the case is prosecuted. A check for $50 and a check for $50,000 are both forgery under Nevada law, but the approach and potential resolution can differ considerably.

What to do if you've been charged

Don't make statements to investigators, bank fraud units, or anyone else without an attorney. Forgery investigations often move slowly — by the time charges are filed, the state has already built a case from bank records, surveillance, and documents. Anything you say at that point is unlikely to help and may make things worse.

The most important early questions are: what exactly is the state alleging you did, what evidence do they have, and is there a knowledge or intent defense that fits the facts. Those questions get answered fastest when you have counsel reviewing the case from the start.

Quick options

FORGERY

Flat fee starting at: $5,000

Down to start: $2,000

Pricing

Reviews

Charged with forgery?

5.0 · 17 Google reviews

FORGERY

Flat fee starting at: $5,000

Down to start: $2,000

Pricing Reviews