First-degree forgery is a class 5 felony. A person commits forgery if, with intent to defraud, they falsely completed, made, or altered a written instrument which is or is supposed to be money, stock, bonds, a deed, a will, a check, a public record, a written instrument created or issued by a public office or government agency, or tokens, transfers or other articles designed for payment of public transportation (for example, RTD transfers). There are many ways to violate the forgery statute. For example, it would constitute forgery to falsify community service hours, or to alter and then display a temporary license plate.

In order to be convicted of forgery, it is not necessary for you to have been the person who prepared the forged instrument. The prosecution does not have to prove that you mailed the false instrument or specifically directed someone else to do so on your behalf.