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Forgery Defense

Forgery is a felony built almost entirely on intent — and intent is exactly where the State's case is weakest.

★★★★★·“Honest, straightforward and effective.” — Josh★★★★★★·“The most competent attorney in Missouri.” — Brianna★★★★★★·“Professional, honest and tenacious.” — William★★★★★★·“Fair, honest attorney.” — Bryan★★★★★★·“Great guy and awesome lawyer.” — James★★★★★★·“Very professional and forthcoming.” — Jessica★★★★★★·“Best lawyers in St. Charles by far.” — Summer★★★★★★·“Gets the job done in your favor.” — Tim★★★★★★·“By far the best attorney in the state of Missouri.” — Monica★★★★★★·“Professional, knowledgeable, and very responsive.” — Doug H.★★★★★★·“Straightforward and no beating around the bush.” — Farrah★★★★★★·“Very helpful throughout my court procedures.” — Jacob★★★★★★·“Handled everything perfectly and got a great result.” — Maria★★★★★★·“Fair pricing, and did what he said he'd do.” — Bryon★★★★★★·“Always looking for ways to help any way he can.” — Zach★★★★★★·“Goes the extra mile to get your case handled swiftly and fairly.” — Leo★★★★★★·“Extremely professional from start to finish.” — Nick★★★★★★·“Absolutely the best at getting the best outcome.” — Kevy★★★★★★·“Very professional. The best there is.” — Jeff★★★★★★·“Very pleased with the results of his efforts.” — Terrence★★★★★★·“One of the best attorneys I've ever had the pleasure of working with.” — Bruce★★★★★★·“Completely competent and genuinely cares about his clients.” — Steven★★★★★★·“Always available, responding quickly every time I called.” — Michael★★★★★★·“Handled my case with no penalty. Very kind and caring.” — Kenzie★★★★★★·“Honest, straightforward and effective.” — Josh★★★★★★·“The most competent attorney in Missouri.” — Brianna★★★★★★·“Professional, honest and tenacious.” — William★★★★★★·“Fair, honest attorney.” — Bryan★★★★★★·“Great guy and awesome lawyer.” — James★★★★★★·“Very professional and forthcoming.” — Jessica★★★★★★·“Best lawyers in St. Charles by far.” — Summer★★★★★★·“Gets the job done in your favor.” — Tim★★★★★★·“By far the best attorney in the state of Missouri.” — Monica★★★★★★·“Professional, knowledgeable, and very responsive.” — Doug H.★★★★★★·“Straightforward and no beating around the bush.” — Farrah★★★★★★·“Very helpful throughout my court procedures.” — Jacob★★★★★★·“Handled everything perfectly and got a great result.” — Maria★★★★★★·“Fair pricing, and did what he said he'd do.” — Bryon★★★★★★·“Always looking for ways to help any way he can.” — Zach★★★★★★·“Goes the extra mile to get your case handled swiftly and fairly.” — Leo★★★★★★·“Extremely professional from start to finish.” — Nick★★★★★★·“Absolutely the best at getting the best outcome.” — Kevy★★★★★★·“Very professional. The best there is.” — Jeff★★★★★★·“Very pleased with the results of his efforts.” — Terrence★★★★★★·“One of the best attorneys I've ever had the pleasure of working with.” — Bruce★★★★★★·“Completely competent and genuinely cares about his clients.” — Steven★★★★★★·“Always available, responding quickly every time I called.” — Michael★★★★★★·“Handled my case with no penalty. Very kind and caring.” — Kenzie★

Forgery in Missouri is a class D felony — up to seven years — and it covers far more than faking a signature. Altering a document, passing a bad check, using a falsified instrument: the statute sweeps broadly. But it has one demanding element the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt: the purpose to defraud.

Intent Is Everything

People sign documents for family members with permission. Employees process paperwork they believe is legitimate. Spouses share accounts in ways that look suspicious only after the relationship sours. None of that is forgery — and Mike has spent 25 years making juries and prosecutors see the difference between a crime and a misunderstanding.

Building the Defense

  • Authorization. Express or implied permission defeats the charge.
  • Knowledge. Passing a document you didn't know was false is not a crime.
  • Handwriting and forensic challenges. Document examination is far less scientific than the State pretends.
  • Paper trails cut both ways. Bank records, emails, and texts often prove the accused's good faith.

Forgery cases frequently travel with stealing or fraud counts. Mike defends the whole picture, not one charge at a time.

Key Missouri Law

RSMo § 570.090Forgery (class D felony)
RSMo § 570.100Possession of a forging instrumentality

Charged? Here's Your Next Move.

Do not give a statement. Do not consent to a search. Do not plead at your first appearance just to make it stop. Call or text (636)940-7771 — any hour, any day — or send the free case evaluation form and we'll get back to you fast.

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