{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "165.20", "citation": "Penal Law § 165.20", "heading": "Fraudulently obtaining a signature", "text": ["§ 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_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/165.20", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "A person fraudulently obtains a signature by **getting someone’s signature on a written instrument through a factual misrepresentation known to be false**, intending to defraud or injure another or obtain a substantial benefit for anyone. ★ It is a **class A misdemeanor**.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/165.20", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}