The federal law for falsifying documents makes it a federal crime to falsify documents which can result in imprisonment, fines and other legal consequences.
There are several different federal laws on the law books that make falsifying documents illegal and a federal crime.
Federal law 18 U.S.C. § 1001.
Prohibits making false statements.
Federal law 18 U.S.C. § 1002.
Prohibits possessing false documents with intent to defraud the United States.
Federal law 18 U.S.C. § 1519.
Prohibits altering, destroying, or falsifying records in federal investigations or bankruptcy.
Federal law 18 U.S.C. § 471.
Prohibits making, altering, using, or possessing false documents with intent to commit fraud.
The penalties for falsifying documents include fines, prison time, suspension and or disbarment from practicing law and long term impacts on your personal and professional life.
Examples of falsifying documents are preventing the making of a true entry in business records, destroying business records, manipulating details on official documents, forging signatures and altering financial statements.