At its core, forgery occurs when someone makes, completes, alters, or possesses  forgery 2nd degree   a written instrument that they know to be forged, and they intend to use it to mislead or cause harm. In the case of second-degree forgery, the forged documents usually involve ordinary written instruments such as contracts, checks, credit cards, deeds, wills, or business records, rather than government-issued documents like money, stamps, or securities, which typically fall under first-degree forgery.

For example, if a person signs someone else’s name on a check without authorization and attempts to cash it, that can constitute forgery in the second degree. Similarly, altering the terms of a contract, falsifying an employment record, or creating a fake business receipt may fall under this offense. The law recognizes that such actions undermine trust, create financial losses, and can disrupt both personal and commercial relationships.

The **intent to defraud** is a crucial element in establishing guilt. This means the prosecution must prove not only that the defendant created or altered a document but also that they did so with the purpose of deceiving another party. Simply making a mistake on a document or filling in incorrect information without intent to deceive usually does not amount to forgery.

Penalties for second-degree forgery depend on the jurisdiction. In many U.S. states, it is classified as a **Class D or Class C felony**, which can result in imprisonment ranging from one to five years, fines, probation, restitution to victims, or a combination of these penalties. Some states may treat it as a misdemeanor under certain circumstances,