Four Types of Forgery OCGA 16-9-1

Forgery in the Fourth Degree

A person commits the offense of forgery in the fourth degree when with the intent to defraud he or she knowingly:
(1) Makes, alters, possesses, utters, or delivers any check written in the amount of less than $1,500.00 in a fictitious name or in such manner that the check as made or altered purports to have been made by another person, at another time, with different provisions, or by authority of one who did not give such authority; or
(2) Possesses less than ten checks written without a specified amount in a fictitious name or in such manner that the checks as made or altered purport to have been made by another person, at another time, with different provisions, or by authority of one who did not give such authority.

This is a misdemeanor unless it is your 3rd or subsequent, in which case it would be a felony for which you could get 1-5 years.

 

Forgery in the Third Degree

 A person commits the offense of forgery in the third degree when with the intent to defraud he or she knowingly:
(1) Makes, alters, possesses, utters, or delivers any check written in the amount of $1,500.00 or more in a fictitious name or in such manner that the check as made or altered purports to have been made by another person, at another time, with different provisions, or by authority of one who did not give such authority; or
(2) Possesses ten or more checks written without a specified amount in a fictitious name or in such manner that the checks as made or altered purport to have been made by another person, at another time, with different provisions, or by authority of one who did not give such authority.

 

This is a felony for which you can get 1-5 years in prison.

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Forgery in the Second Degree
A person commits the offense of forgery in the second degree when with the intent to defraud he or she knowingly makes, alters, or possesses any writing, other than a check, in a fictitious name or in such manner that the writing as made or altered purports to have been made by another person, at another time, with different provisions, or by authority of one who did not give such authority.

This is a felony for which you can get 1-5 years in prison.

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Forgery in the First Degree

A person commits the offense of forgery in the first degree when with the intent to defraud he or she knowingly makes, alters, or possesses any writing, other than a check, in a fictitious name or in such manner that the writing as made or altered purports to have been made by another person, at another time, with different provisions, or by authority of one who did not give such authority and utters or delivers such writing.

This is a felony for which you can get 1 -15 years in prison.