{"data":{"id":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-267-1","jurisdiction":"us-ma","citation":"Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 267, § 1","heading":"False or forged records, certificates, returns, attestations and other writings","body":"Section 1. Whoever, with intent to injure or defraud, falsely makes, alters, forges or counterfeits a public record, or a certificate, return or attestation of a clerk or register of a court, public register, notary public, justice of the peace, town clerk or any other public officer, in relation to a matter wherein such certificate, return or attestation may be received as legal proof; or a charter, deed, will, testament, bond or writing obligatory, power of attorney, policy of insurance, bill of lading, bill of exchange or promissory note; or an order, acquittance or discharge for money or other property or a credit card or an instrument described as a United States Dollar Traveller's Check or Cheque, purchased from a bank or other financially responsible institution, the purpose of which is a source of ready money on cashing the instrument without identification other than the signature of the purchaser; or an acceptance of a bill of exchange, or an endorsement or assignment of a bill of exchange or promissory note for the payment of money; or an accountable receipt for money, goods or other property; or a stock certificate, or any evidence or muniment of title to property; or a certificate of title, duplicate certificate of title, certificate issued in place of a duplicate certificate, the registration book, entry book, or any indexes provided for by chapter one hundred and eighty-five, or the docket of the recorder; shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten years or in jail for not more than two years.","path":["Part IV","Title I","Chapter 267"],"source_url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter267/Section1","current_through":"amendments passed before May 31, 2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-17T05:25:13Z","sha256":"633d47d9bd0ed322d96ff4056df2e2c812c574e654bd100e39d7593a7a7063eb","source_id":"us-ma","stale":false,"prev":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-266-148","next":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-267-2"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}