Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 505: Seals of courts; signatures of judges or court officers

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Forging or counterfeiting signatures of federal judges or court officers, or court seals, or using such forgeries to authenticate documents is a criminal offense punishable by fine and/or up to five years imprisonment.

Read the full statutory text

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.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.