Alaska Statutes
Alaska Stat. § 11.46.580 (2026)
Definitions
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Sec. 11.46.580. Definitions.
Article 6. Business and Commercial Offenses.
(a) In AS 11.46.500 — 11.46.580, unless the context requires otherwise,
(1) to “falsely alter” a written instrument means to change, without authorization by anyone entitled to grant it, a written instrument, whether complete or incomplete, by means of erasure, obliteration, deletion, insertion of new matter, transposition of matter, or any other manner, so that the instrument so altered falsely appears or purports to be in all respects an authentic creation of its ostensible maker or authorized by the ostensible maker;
(2) to “falsely complete” a written instrument means to transform, by adding, inserting, or changing matter, an incomplete written instrument into a complete one without the authority of anyone entitled to grant it, so that the complete written instrument falsely appears or purports to be in all respects an authentic creation of its ostensible maker or authorized by the ostensible maker;
(3) to “falsely make” a written instrument means to make or draw a complete or incomplete written instrument which purports to be an authentic creation of its ostensible maker, but which is not, either because the ostensible maker is fictitious or because, if real, the ostensible maker did not authorize the making or drawing of the instrument.
(b) In AS 11.46.500 — 11.46.580,
(1) “forged instrument” means a written instrument which has been falsely made, completed, or altered;
(2) “utter” means to issue, deliver, publish, circulate, disseminate, transfer, or tender a written instrument or other object to another;
(3) “written instrument” means a paper, document, instrument, electronic recording, or article containing written or printed matter or the equivalent, whether complete or incomplete, used for the purpose of reciting, embodying, conveying, or recording information or constituting a symbol or evidence of value, right, privilege, or identification, which is capable of being used to the advantage or disadvantage of some person.
(a) In AS 11.46.500 — 11.46.580, unless the context requires otherwise,
(1) to “falsely alter” a written instrument means to change, without authorization by anyone entitled to grant it, a written instrument, whether complete or incomplete, by means of erasure, obliteration, deletion, insertion of new matter, transposition of matter, or any other manner, so that the instrument so altered falsely appears or purports to be in all respects an authentic creation of its ostensible maker or authorized by the ostensible maker;
(2) to “falsely complete” a written instrument means to transform, by adding, inserting, or changing matter, an incomplete written instrument into a complete one without the authority of anyone entitled to grant it, so that the complete written instrument falsely appears or purports to be in all respects an authentic creation of its ostensible maker or authorized by the ostensible maker;
(3) to “falsely make” a written instrument means to make or draw a complete or incomplete written instrument which purports to be an authentic creation of its ostensible maker, but which is not, either because the ostensible maker is fictitious or because, if real, the ostensible maker did not authorize the making or drawing of the instrument.
(b) In AS 11.46.500 — 11.46.580,
(1) “forged instrument” means a written instrument which has been falsely made, completed, or altered;
(2) “utter” means to issue, deliver, publish, circulate, disseminate, transfer, or tender a written instrument or other object to another;
(3) “written instrument” means a paper, document, instrument, electronic recording, or article containing written or printed matter or the equivalent, whether complete or incomplete, used for the purpose of reciting, embodying, conveying, or recording information or constituting a symbol or evidence of value, right, privilege, or identification, which is capable of being used to the advantage or disadvantage of some person.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5
cases, 1983–2008 · leading case: Brown v. State, 693 P.2d 324 (Alaska Ct. App. 1984).
Brown v. State, 693 P.2d 324 (Alaska Ct. App. 1984). “Under AS 11.46.580(a)(3) to "falsely make" a written instrument, for purposes of Alaska's forgery statute, means: to make or draw a complete or incomplete written instrument which purports to be an authentic creation of its ostensible maker, but which is not, either because the…”
Hosier v. State, 1 P.3d 107 (Alaska Ct. App. 2000). “See AS 11.46.580 for the definitions of "falsely alter", "falsely complete", "falsely make", "forged instrument", "utter", and "written instrument".”
Hemphill v. State, 673 P.2d 888 (Alaska Ct. App. 1983). “AS 11.46.580(b)(3) states: “written instrument” means a paper, document, instrument, electronic recording, or article containing written or printed matter or the equivalent, whether complete or incomplete, used for the purpose of reciting, embodying, conveying, or recording…”
Gottlieb v. State, 175 P.3d 664 (Alaska Ct. App. 2008). “AS 11.46.580(a)(1). 17 . AS 11.46.580(a)(2).”
Alley v. State, 704 P.2d 233 (Alaska Ct. App. 1985). “AS 11.46.580(b)(2) defines “utter” as “to issue, deliver, publish, circulate, disseminate, transfer or tender a written instrument or other object to another.”
— Alaska Stat. § 11.46.580(a)(1) — 1 case
Gottlieb v. State, 175 P.3d 664 (Alaska Ct. App. 2008). “AS 11.46.580(a)(1). 17 . AS 11.46.580(a)(2).”
— Alaska Stat. § 11.46.580(a)(2) — 1 case
Gottlieb v. State, 175 P.3d 664 (Alaska Ct. App. 2008). “AS 11.46.580(a)(1). 17 . AS 11.46.580(a)(2).”
— Alaska Stat. § 11.46.580(a)(3) — 2 cases
Brown v. State, 693 P.2d 324 (Alaska Ct. App. 1984). “Under AS 11.46.580(a)(3) to "falsely make" a written instrument, for purposes of Alaska's forgery statute, means: to make or draw a complete or incomplete written instrument which purports to be an authentic creation of its ostensible maker, but which is not, either because the…”
Gottlieb v. State, 175 P.3d 664 (Alaska Ct. App. 2008). “AS 11.46.580(a)(1). 17 . AS 11.46.580(a)(2).”
— Alaska Stat. § 11.46.580(b)(1) — 1 case
Gottlieb v. State, 175 P.3d 664 (Alaska Ct. App. 2008). “AS 11.46.580(a)(1). 17 . AS 11.46.580(a)(2).”
— Alaska Stat. § 11.46.580(b)(2) — 1 case
Alley v. State, 704 P.2d 233 (Alaska Ct. App. 1985). “AS 11.46.580(b)(2) defines “utter” as “to issue, deliver, publish, circulate, disseminate, transfer or tender a written instrument or other object to another.”
— Alaska Stat. § 11.46.580(b)(3) — 2 cases
Hemphill v. State, 673 P.2d 888 (Alaska Ct. App. 1983). “AS 11.46.580(b)(3) states: “written instrument” means a paper, document, instrument, electronic recording, or article containing written or printed matter or the equivalent, whether complete or incomplete, used for the purpose of reciting, embodying, conveying, or recording…”
Gottlieb v. State, 175 P.3d 664 (Alaska Ct. App. 2008). “AS 11.46.580(a)(1). 17 . AS 11.46.580(a)(2).”
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