§505 — Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure | U.S. Code

Summary

Making or using a fake judge’s or court clerk’s signature, or a fake court seal, to make a court document or record look real is a crime for any U.S. court or U.S. territory. That includes forging them yourself, helping someone else use them, or knowingly offering documents with fake signatures or seals as evidence. A person who does this can be fined under federal law, put in prison for up to five years, or both.

Title 18, §505

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever forges the signature of any judge, register, or other officer of any court of the United States, or of any Territory thereof, or forges or counterfeits the seal of any such court, or knowingly concurs in using any such forged or counterfeit signature or seal, for the purpose of authenticating any proceeding or document, or tenders in evidence any such proceeding or document with a false or counterfeit signature of any such judge, register, or other officer, or a false or counterfeit seal of the court, subscribed or attached thereto, knowing such signature or seal to be false or counterfeit, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 236 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 130, 35 Stat. 1112). Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative. Minor changes of phraseology were made.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.

§505 Seals of Courts; Signatures of Judges or Court Officers