Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 17-A
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 701 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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As used in sections 702 and 703:   [PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW).]
1.  A person "falsely alters" a written instrument when, without the authority of anyone entitled to grant it, he changes a written instrument, whether it be in complete or incomplete form, by means of erasure, obliteration, deletion, insertion of new matter, transposition of matter, or in any other manner, so that such instrument in its thus altered form appears or purports to be in all respects an authentic creation of, or fully authorized by, its ostensible holder, author, maker or drawer;  
[PL 1975, c. 740, §75 (AMD).]
2.  A person "falsely completes" a written instrument when, by adding, inserting or changing matter, he transforms an incomplete written instrument into a complete one, without the authority of anyone entitled to grant it, so that such complete instrument appears or purports to be in all respects an authentic creation of, or fully authorized by, its ostensible author, maker or drawer;  
[PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW).]
3.  A person "falsely makes" a written instrument when he makes or draws a complete written instrument in its entirety, or an incomplete written instrument, which purports to be an authentic creation of its ostensible author, maker or drawer, but which is not such, either because the ostensible maker or drawer is fictitious or because, if real, he did not authorize the making or drawing thereof;  
[PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW).]
4.  "Written instrument" includes any token, coin, stamp, seal, badge, trademark, credit card, absentee ballot application, absentee ballot envelope, medical drug prescription form, other evidence or symbol of value, right, privilege or identification, and any paper, document or other written instrument containing written or printed matter or its equivalent;  
[PL 2001, c. 419, §1 (AMD).]
5.  "Complete written instrument" means a written instrument which purports to be a genuine written instrument fully drawn with respect to every essential feature thereof; and  
[PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW).]
6.  "Incomplete written instrument" means a written instrument which contains some matter by way of content or authentication but which requires additional matter in order to render it a complete written instrument.  
[PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW). PL 1975, c. 740, §75 (AMD). PL 1981, c. 436, §1 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 419, §1 (AMD).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 1976–2018 · leading case: State v. Huntley, 473 A.2d 859 (Me. 1984).
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State v. Huntley, 473 A.2d 859 (Me. 1984). · cites it 2× “); 17-A M.R.S.A. § 701 (defining "falsely utters," "falsely completes," "written instrument," etc.”
State v. Ray, 1999 ME 167 (Me. 1999). · cites it 2× “The statute defines the terms “falsely alters,” “falsely completes,” and “falsely makes,” see 17-A M.R.S.A. § 701(1) — (3) (1983), but does not explicitly define “falsely endorses.”
Opinion of the Justices of the Supreme Jud. Court, 355 A.2d 341 (Me. 1976). “17-A MRSA § 701, sub-§ 1, as enacted by PL 1975, c.”
State of Maine v. Santos (Me. Super. Ct 2018). “R.S. § 701(3): "A person 'falsely makes' a written instrument when he makes or draws a complete written instrument in its entirety .”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 701(1) — 1 case
State v. Ray, 1999 ME 167 (Me. 1999). “The statute defines the terms “falsely alters,” “falsely completes,” and “falsely makes,” see 17-A M.R.S.A. § 701(1) — (3) (1983), but does not explicitly define “falsely endorses.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 701(3) — 1 case
State of Maine v. Santos (Me. Super. Ct 2018). “R.S. § 701(3): "A person 'falsely makes' a written instrument when he makes or draws a complete written instrument in its entirety .”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 701(4) — 1 case
State v. Ray, 1999 ME 167 (Me. 1999). “The statute defines the terms “falsely alters,” “falsely completes,” and “falsely makes,” see 17-A M.R.S.A. § 701(1) — (3) (1983), but does not explicitly define “falsely endorses.”
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