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CA · jury_instructions

CALCRIM No. 1900

Forgery by False Signature (Pen. Code, § 470(a))

activein force · 2023-01-01 – presentcompiled-edition

The defendant is charged [in Count] with forgery committed by

signing a false signature [in violation of Penal Code section 470(a)].

To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must

prove that:

1. The defendant signed (someone else’s name/ [or] a false name) to

[a/an] <insert type[s] of document[s] from Pen. Code,

§ 470(d)>;

2. The defendant did not have authority to sign that name;

3. The defendant knew that (he/she) did not have that authority;

AND

4. When the defendant signed the document, (he/she) intended to

defraud.

Someone intends to defraud if he or she intends to deceive another

person either to cause a loss of (money[,]/ [or] goods[,]/ [or] services[,]/

[or] something [else] of value), or to cause damage to, a legal, financial,

or property right.

[For the purpose of this instruction, a person includes (a governmental

agency/a corporation/a business/an association/the body politic).]

[It is not necessary that anyone actually be defrauded or actually suffer

a financial, legal, or property loss as a result of the defendant’s acts.]

[The People allege that the defendant forged the following documents:

<insert description of each document when multiple items

alleged>. Y ou may not find the defendant guilty unless all of you agree

that the People have proved that the defendant forged at least one of

these documents and you all agree on which document (he/she) forged.]

<Sentencing factor for instruments specified in Penal Code section 473(b)>

[If you find the defendant guilty of forgery by false signature, you must

then decide whether the value of the (check/bond/bank bill/

note/cashier’s check/traveler’s check/money order) was more than $950.

If you have a reasonable doubt whether the value of the

(check/bond/bank bill/note/cashier’s check/traveler’s check/money order)

has a value of more than $950, you must find this allegation has not

been proved.]

New January 2006; Revised August 2015, March 2019

Provenance

Source
courts.ca.gov
Retrieved
2026-08-20
Edition
calcrim-2023
Content hash
3257779021de6d0d7f477f588e3e952c77424b25b51d1179fe68fc3709a94e9e
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