New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 165.20 — Fraudulently obtaining a signature
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 165: Other Offenses Relating to Theft, New York Penal Law.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 165.20
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
165.20 Fraudulently obtaining a signature.
A person is guilty of fraudulently obtaining a signature when, with
intent to defraud or injure another or to acquire a substantial benefit
for himself or a third person, he obtains the signature of a person to a
written instrument by means of any misrepresentation of fact which he
knows to be false.
Fraudulently obtaining a signature is a class A misdemeanor.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
What class of misdemeanor is fraudulently obtaining a signature in New York?
Fraudulently obtaining a signature is a Class A Misdemeanor in New York under N.Y. Penal Law § 165.20.
Which New York statute covers fraudulently obtaining a signature?
Fraudulently obtaining a signature is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 165.20 (Fraudulently obtaining a signature).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.