Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§497 Letters patent
Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 25— - COUNTERFEITING AND FORGERY › § 497
Summary
It makes it a crime to create, copy, or change any letters patent that say they were issued by the President, or to knowingly try to pass such fake papers off as real. A person who does this can be fined as federal law allows, sent to prison for up to ten years, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §497
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever falsely makes, forges, counterfeits, or alters any letters patent granted or purporting to have been granted by the President of the United States; or Whoever passes, utters, or publishes, or attempts to pass, utter, or publish as genuine, any such letters patent, knowing the same to be forged, counterfeited or falsely altered— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 71 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 27, 35 Stat. 1094). Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative. Changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 497
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73