Legal and Financial Protection
What if someone forged the deceased's signature?
Short answer
This is fraud and potentially forgery — criminal offenses. Contact law enforcement. Gather any original documents for handwriting comparison. A forensic document examiner can analyze signatures. A probate litigation attorney can pursue civil remedies. Do not confront the suspect directly.
What this usually means
This is fraud and potentially forgery — criminal offenses. Contact law enforcement. Gather any original documents for handwriting comparison. A forensic document examiner can analyze signatures. A probate litigation attorney can pursue civil remedies. Do not confront the suspect directly.
What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county phone numbers for coroner, vital records, and local offices.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.