Is it check fraud to help someone write a check?
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Is it check fraud to help someone write a check?
My maternal grandfather recently passed away. His son, as the executor, was recently sent a bank
statement with a few checks with a different signature. We would help our grandfather write his checks. Is it check fraud when you have permission? If he’s passed away how do we prove we had his permission?
Asked on May 13, 2017 under Criminal Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
Yes, it is technically a crime to write checks on someone else's account and sign their name when you are not them. If your grandfather wanted you to help with his finances, he should have put you on the account and/or given you a power of attorney, either of which would have given you legal authority.
Even though this is a crime since you signed checks on another's account without the legal authorization, if the checks were clearly for the grandfather (e.g. his medical bills, his rent or mortgage, his utilities, etc.), you are unlikely to suffer liability for this: demonstrating that all the amounts for paid for his benefit is important. But if the checks were payable to you or for your own expenses, you could be looking at criminal charges.
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