Punishment for misdemeanor forgery is a jail sentence of up to one year. Counterfeiting or forging someone else's handwriting or seal.Using a false document like a driver's license or government ID to commit forgery. There are three crimes related to forgery. These are: credit card fraud – PC 484f,; check fraud – PC 476, and; making or selling counterfeit goods – PC 350. Filing a false document does not have to involve forging and filing documents to commit real estate fraud. You can be convicted of forgery under California law if you "knowingly alter, create, or use a written document, intending to commit a fraud. For more in-depth information on forgery laws, refer to the following scholarly articles: Fraud: The Necessity for an Intent to Deceive – UCLA Law Review.