Is it legal to forge someone's signature with their permission?
At some point in your life you’ve most likely questioned if you can sign something in someone else's name, whether it’s a consent form for school or a contract.
A signature is a powerful tool which can guarantee you rights and responsibilities. So, when you want to sign in someone else’s name, make sure to take the necessary steps to protect yourself legally, particularly in respect of fraud.
Is it legal to forge someone
else's signature?
Continue on to find out whether it's
legal or not to forge someone
else's signature...
“It is legal to copy someone’s signature with permission with permission in the UK. However, it’s important to be upfront and transparent when seeking explicit permission otherwise you could be accused of fraud and face legal consequences” - S1 Forgery Act 1981
Under Section 1 Forgery Act 1981 “a person is guilty of forgery if they make a false instrument with the intention that he or another shall use it to induce somebody to accept it as genuine and by reason of so accepting it to do or not do some act to his own or another person’s prejudice”.
Therefore, forging someone’s signature is a crime (generally considered fraud) and is punishable with both fines and imprisonment.
However, forging someone’s signature is different from copying it with their permission. It’s not illegal to copy someone’s signature with their permission.
Forging a signature implies you have no permission to use the signature.
The person consenting to their signature being copied must be fully aware what their signature will be used for and fully understands the implications of what their signing.
For example, if a person is giving permission for their signature to be used on a legal document, they should be fully aware of the contents of the document and the consequences of signing it.
This means that if you deceive them into signing it on false pretences or taking part in actions which may be perceived as fraudulent or illegal you may be found guilty of fraud and held criminally liable.
However, if you have full informed permission to copy their signature for something legitimate and lawful then it is legal.
So ensure you have fully informed and explicit permission to use the person’s signature.
Dorota Mlynarska
