GroundRules
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-37-201: Forgery
Where this section sits in the code
- AR Code
- Title 5
- Chapter 37
- Subchapter 2
(a) A person forges a written instrument if, with purpose to defraud, the person makes, completes, alters, counterfeits, possesses, or utters any written instrument that purports to be or is calculated to become or to represent if completed the act of: (1) A person who did not authorize that act; (2) A fictitious person; or (3) A person who authorized an act that was not authorized by law. (b) A person commits forgery in the first degree if he or she forges a written instrument that is: (1) Money, a security, a postage or revenue stamp, or other instrument issued by a government; or (2) A stock, bond, or similar instrument representing an interest in property or a claim against a corporation or its property. (c) A person commits forgery in the second degree if he or she forges a written instrument that is: (1) A deed, will, codicil, contract, assignment, check, commercial instrument, credit card, or other written instrument that does or may evidence, create, transfer, terminate, or otherwise affect a legal right, interest, obligation, or status; (2) A public record, or an instrument filed or required by law to be filed, or an instrument legally entitled to be filed in a public office or with a public servant; or (3) A written instrument officially issued or created by a public office, public servant, or government agent. (d) Forgery in the first degree is a Class B felony. (e) Forgery in the second degree is a Class C felony. Amended by Act 2013, No. 1515,§ 1, eff. 8/16/2013. Acts 1975, No. 280, § 2302; A.S.A. 1947, § 41-2302.
(a) A person forges a written instrument if, with purpose to defraud, the person makes, completes, alters, counterfeits, possesses, or utters any written instrument that purports to be or is calculated to become or to represent if completed the act of: (1) A person who did not authorize that act; (2) A fictitious person; or (3) A person who authorized an act that was not authorized by law.
(1) A person who did not authorize that act;
(2) A fictitious person; or
(3) A person who authorized an act that was not authorized by law.
(b) A person commits forgery in the first degree if he or she forges a written instrument that is: (1) Money, a security, a postage or revenue stamp, or other instrument issued by a government; or (2) A stock, bond, or similar instrument representing an interest in property or a claim against a corporation or its property.
(1) Money, a security, a postage or revenue stamp, or other instrument issued by a government; or
(2) A stock, bond, or similar instrument representing an interest in property or a claim against a corporation or its property.
(c) A person commits forgery in the second degree if he or she forges a written instrument that is: (1) A deed, will, codicil, contract, assignment, check, commercial instrument, credit card, or other written instrument that does or may evidence, create, transfer, terminate, or otherwise affect a legal right, interest, obligation, or status; (2) A public record, or an instrument filed or required by law to be filed, or an instrument legally entitled to be filed in a public office or with a public servant; or (3) A written instrument officially issued or created by a public office, public servant, or government agent.
(1) A deed, will, codicil, contract, assignment, check, commercial instrument, credit card, or other written instrument that does or may evidence, create, transfer, terminate, or otherwise affect a legal right, interest, obligation, or status;
(2) A public record, or an instrument filed or required by law to be filed, or an instrument legally entitled to be filed in a public office or with a public servant; or
(3) A written instrument officially issued or created by a public office, public servant, or government agent.
(d) Forgery in the first degree is a Class B felony.
therwise affect a legal right, interest, obligation, or status;
(2) A public record, or an instrument filed or required by law to be filed, or an instrument legally entitled to be filed in a public office or with a public servant; or
(3) A written instrument officially issued or created by a public office, public servant, or government agent.
(d) Forgery in the first degree is a Class B felony.
(e) Forgery in the second degree is a Class C felony.
Collected 2026-09-17T21:35:43Z. Source file · JSON
Compilation CC BY 4.0, Open US Law (Vaquill AI). GroundRules uses only the releases published under CC BY 4.0: from v2026.09 the compilation is licensed CC BY-NC 4.0, and GroundRules does not use those releases. Each affected row names its release in its vintage label. GroundRules parsed and filtered the compilation to retain enacted text. Source · License
Arkansas electronic product files were republished by Public.Resource.Org under a public-domain mark. GroundRules uses enacted text from Release 78 only as a labeled supplement to the newer Open US Law rows. Source