Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9A · Chapter 9A.60
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.60.020 (2026)

Forgery

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section WA-LEGapp.leg.wa.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
(1) A person is guilty of forgery if, with intent to injure or defraud:
(a) He or she falsely makes, completes, or alters a written instrument or;
(b) He or she possesses, utters, offers, disposes of, or puts off as true a written instrument which he or she knows to be forged.
(2) In a proceeding under this section that is related to an identity theft under RCW 9.35.020, the crime will be considered to have been committed in any locality where the person whose means of identification or financial information was appropriated resides, or in which any part of the offense took place, regardless of whether the defendant was ever actually in that locality.
(3) Forgery is a class C felony.
[ 2011 c 336 s 382; 2003 c 119 s 5; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 38 s 13; 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.60.020.]

Notes:

Effective date—Severability—1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 38: See notes following RCW 9A.08.020.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 110 cases (16 in the last 5 years), 1978–2025 · leading case: State v. Hescock, 989 P.2d 1251 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
State v. Hescock, 989 P.2d 1251 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 6× “Although the State charged Hescock with two alternative means of committing forgery in violation of RCW 9A.60.020(1)(a) and RCW 9A.60.020(1)(b), the trial court found Hescock guilty of violating only RCW 9A.”
In Re the Pers. Restraint of Keene, 622 P.2d 360 (Wash. 1981). · cites it 4× “050, not forgery as defined in RCW 9A.60.020. The petitioner's written statement on his plea of guilty shows that, with respect to count 2, on or about July 20, 1976, he cashed a check upon which the name of his employer, Ron Lindh, had been forged, for the amount of $200.”
State v. Bray, 756 P.2d 1332 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 5× “Bray was charged pursuant to RCW 9A.60.020(l)(a), which provides that one is guilty of forgery if, with intent to injure or defraud: (a) He falsely makes, completes, or alters a written instrument.”
State v. Vasquez, 309 P.3d 318 (Wash. 2013). · cites it 2× “The State must prove intent to injure or defraud as an essential element of the crime of forgery — possession alone is not enough ¶14 Washington’s forgery statute provides in pertinent part that “[a] person is guilty of forgery if, with intent to injure or defraud: . . . [h]e or…”
State v. Myers, 689 P.2d 38 (Wash. 1984). · cites it 4× “Myers argues, however, that the officers, in filling out the unauthorized arrest warrant, committed several crimes, including forgery (RCW 9A.60.020) and criminal impersonation (RCW 9A.”
State v. Smith, 610 P.2d 869 (Wash. 1980). · cites it 2× “010; forgery, RCW 9A.60.020; taking of a motor vehicle, RCW 9A.”
State v. Fain, 617 P.2d 720 (Wash. 1980). · cites it 2× “990, repealed by Laws of 1975, 1st Ex. Sess., ch.”
State v. Aitken, 905 P.2d 1235 (Wash. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 8× “The slip therefore is a written instrument under RCW 9A.60.020. Aitken's main argument is that his assumption of the name John Alexander, the only name on the account, could not constitute forgery.”
State v. Silva, 24 P.3d 477 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “The evidence clearly demonstrated that Silva committed a forgery, in violation of RCW 9A.60.020(1), when he wrote the check to Albertsons.”
State v. Silva, 106 Wash. App. 586 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “The evidence clearly demonstrated that Silva committed a forgery, in violation of RCW 9A.60.020(1), when he wrote the check to Albertson’s.”
State v. Scoby, 815 P.2d 1362 (Wash. 1991). · cites it 3× “The crime of forgery is defined in RCW 9A.60.020, which provides in pertinent part: (1) A person is guilty of forgery if, with intent to injure or defraud: (a) He falsely makes, completes, or alters a written instrument or; (b) He possesses, utters, offers, disposes of, or puts…”
State v. Calvert, 903 P.2d 1003 (Wash. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 3× “070(1)), and six counts of forgery (RCW 9A.60.020(1); 9A.08.020(2)(c), (3)). After negotiations with Mr.”
Show all 110 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.60.020(1) — 22 cases
State v. Silva, 24 P.3d 477 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “The evidence clearly demonstrated that Silva committed a forgery, in violation of RCW 9A.60.020(1), when he wrote the check to Albertsons.”
In Re the Pers. Restraint of Keene, 622 P.2d 360 (Wash. 1981). “050, not forgery as defined in RCW 9A.60.020. The petitioner's written statement on his plea of guilty shows that, with respect to count 2, on or about July 20, 1976, he cashed a check upon which the name of his employer, Ron Lindh, had been forged, for the amount of $200.”
State v. Silva, 106 Wash. App. 586 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “The evidence clearly demonstrated that Silva committed a forgery, in violation of RCW 9A.60.020(1), when he wrote the check to Albertson’s.”
State v. Richards, 109 Wash. App. 648 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001).
State v. Calvert, 903 P.2d 1003 (Wash. Ct. App. 1995). “070(1)), and six counts of forgery (RCW 9A.60.020(1); 9A.08.020(2)(c), (3)). After negotiations with Mr.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.60.020(1)(a) — 12 cases
State v. Hescock, 989 P.2d 1251 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “Although the State charged Hescock with two alternative means of committing forgery in violation of RCW 9A.60.020(1)(a) and RCW 9A.60.020(1)(b), the trial court found Hescock guilty of violating only RCW 9A.”
State v. Daniels, 103 P.3d 249 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004).
State Of Washington, V. Shane Arthur Widen (Wash. Ct. App. 2024).
State Of Washington v. Allen Sellers (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
State Of Washington v. John Palacios Aquino (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.60.020(1)(a)(b) — 2 cases
State Of Washington v. Bobby A. Norman (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
State Of Washington, V. Shane Arthur Widen (Wash. Ct. App. 2024).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.60.020(1)(b) — 17 cases
State v. Hescock, 989 P.2d 1251 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “Although the State charged Hescock with two alternative means of committing forgery in violation of RCW 9A.60.020(1)(a) and RCW 9A.60.020(1)(b), the trial court found Hescock guilty of violating only RCW 9A.”
State v. Brasel, 623 P.2d 696 (Wash. Ct. App. 1981).
State v. Young, 984 P.2d 1050 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999).
State Of Washington, V. Shane Arthur Widen (Wash. Ct. App. 2024).
State v. Vasquez, 269 P.3d 370 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.60.020(2) — 4 cases
State v. Fain, 617 P.2d 720 (Wash. 1980). “990, repealed by Laws of 1975, 1st Ex. Sess., ch.”
State v. Harris, 693 P.2d 750 (Wash. Ct. App. 1985).
State v. Soderholm, 842 P.2d 1039 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993).
State Of Washington v. Bobby A. Norman (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.60.020(3) — 4 cases
State Of Washington v. Forrest E. Amos (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).
State of Washington v. Tracey Kimberly Bailey (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).
State Of Washington v. Forrest Amos (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).
In re Disciplinary Proceeding Against Del Carmen Rodriguez (Wash. 2013).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.60.020(b) — 2 cases
State Of Washington v. Randall Charles King (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).
State Of Washington v. Forrest Amos (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.60.020(l)(a) — 11 cases
State v. Bray, 756 P.2d 1332 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988). “Bray was charged pursuant to RCW 9A.60.020(l)(a), which provides that one is guilty of forgery if, with intent to injure or defraud: (a) He falsely makes, completes, or alters a written instrument.”
State v. Griffin, 670 P.2d 265 (Wash. 1983).
State v. Hescock, 989 P.2d 1251 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “Although the State charged Hescock with two alternative means of committing forgery in violation of RCW 9A.60.020(1)(a) and RCW 9A.60.020(1)(b), the trial court found Hescock guilty of violating only RCW 9A.”
State v. Daniels, 124 Wash. App. 830 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004).
State v. Calvert, 903 P.2d 1003 (Wash. Ct. App. 1995). “070(1)), and six counts of forgery (RCW 9A.60.020(1); 9A.08.020(2)(c), (3)). After negotiations with Mr.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.60.020(l)(b) — 11 cases
State v. Vasquez, 309 P.3d 318 (Wash. 2013). “The State must prove intent to injure or defraud as an essential element of the crime of forgery — possession alone is not enough ¶14 Washington’s forgery statute provides in pertinent part that “[a] person is guilty of forgery if, with intent to injure or defraud: . . . [h]e or…”
State v. Bray, 756 P.2d 1332 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988). “Bray was charged pursuant to RCW 9A.60.020(l)(a), which provides that one is guilty of forgery if, with intent to injure or defraud: (a) He falsely makes, completes, or alters a written instrument.”
State v. Esquivel, 863 P.2d 113 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993).
State v. Brasel, 623 P.2d 696 (Wash. Ct. App. 1981).
State v. Calvert, 903 P.2d 1003 (Wash. Ct. App. 1995). “070(1)), and six counts of forgery (RCW 9A.60.020(1); 9A.08.020(2)(c), (3)). After negotiations with Mr.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.