Florida statute

Fla. Stat. § 817.39 — Simulated forms of court or legal process, or official seal or stationery; publication, sale or circulation unlawful; penalty

Current through 2025 Florida Statutes

Part of Part I: False Pretenses and Frauds,generally, Florida Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Simulated forms of court or legal process, or official seal or stationery; publication, sale or circulation unlawful; penalty

Full text of Fla. Stat. § 817.39

Statutory text current through the 2025 Florida Statutes. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Florida.

Fla. Stat. § 817.39Primary source, current through the 2025 Florida Statutes

(1) Any person or business entity who prints, for the purpose of sale or distribution and for use in the state, or who circulates, publishes, or offers for sale any letter, paper, document, notice of intent to bring suit, or other notice or demand, which simulates a form of court or legal process, or any person who without authority of the state prints, for the purpose of sale or distribution for use in the state, or who without authority of the state circulates, publishes, or offers for sale any letters, papers, or documents which simulate the seal of the state, or the stationery of a state agency or fictitious state agency commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (2) It shall be no defense that the paper or other instrument referred to in subsection (1) shall declare that it is not a court or legal process. (3) This section does not prevent the printing, publication, sale, or distribution of genuine legal forms for the use of attorneys or clerks of courts.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is simulated forms of court or legal process, or official seal or stationery; publication, sale or circulation unlawful; penalty a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?

Simulated forms of court or legal process, or official seal or stationery; publication, sale or circulation unlawful; penalty is a Misdemeanor of the Second Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 817.39.

Which Florida statute covers simulated forms of court or legal process, or official seal or stationery; publication, sale or circulation unlawful; penalty?

Simulated forms of court or legal process, or official seal or stationery; publication, sale or circulation unlawful; penalty is governed by Fla. Stat. § 817.39 (Simulated forms of court or legal process, or official seal or stationery; publication, sale or circulation unlawful; penalty).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.