- Legal Basis
- § 267 StGB
- Sentencing Range
- Imprisonment of up to five years or a fine
- Summary
- Producing a counterfeit document, falsifying a genuine document, or using a counterfeit or falsified document for deception
Document Forgery (Section 267 German Criminal Code) – Criminal Defence Against Forgery Charges
Document forgery is an offence against the security and reliability of legal transactions. It protects trust in the authenticity and content accuracy of documents and covers a wide range of situations in practice – from forged medical certificates and manipulated contracts to false identity documents. For expats in Germany, this provision is relevant because misunderstandings about document requirements can lead to serious criminal liability.
Statutory Text – Section 267 StGB
Paragraph 1: Whoever, for the purpose of deception in legal transactions, produces a counterfeit document, falsifies a genuine document, or uses a counterfeit or falsified document, shall be punished with imprisonment of up to five years or a fine.
Paragraph 2: Attempt is punishable.
Paragraph 3: In especially serious cases, the penalty shall be imprisonment from six months to ten years.
Elements of the Offence in Detail
Document: A document is any embodied declaration of thought that is suitable and intended for proof in legal transactions and identifies its author. Beyond classic written documents, this includes certified copies, official stamps, and under certain conditions electronic documents.
Producing a counterfeit document: A document is counterfeit if it creates the appearance of originating from someone other than its actual producer. The core lies in the identity deception regarding the author.
Falsifying a genuine document: Falsification occurs when the content of a genuine document is subsequently altered so as to create the appearance that the document originally had this content.
Using: Using means making the counterfeit or falsified document accessible to a third party so that they can take notice of it.
For deception in legal transactions: The offender must intend to deceive in legal transactions – to create a false impression about the authenticity in another person.
Typical Methods of Commission
Document forgery arises in practice as forging sick notes and medical certificates, manipulating contracts, invoices, or receipts, producing forged diplomas or certificates, forging vehicle documents (registration certificates, inspection stickers), manipulating bank statements and financial statements, and forging identity documents (the latter are also covered by special provisions beyond Section 267).
Sentencing Range
Simple document forgery is punished with imprisonment of up to five years or a fine. Attempt is punishable. In especially serious cases (para. 3) – particularly commercial or gang-related commission – the penalty is imprisonment from six months to ten years.
Typical Defence Strategies
Defence against forgery charges first examines whether a document within the criminal law sense actually exists and whether the intent to deceive can be proven. In cases of falsification, it is relevant whether the accused was authorised to make changes. The question of intent regularly offers points of attack – particularly where the accused did not recognise the legal significance of their conduct. BAFTEH Strafverteidigung examines every case for individual defence approaches and develops a strategy tailored to the specifics of the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was ist eine Forgery?
Nach § 267 StGB macht sich strafbar, wer eine unechte Urkunde herstellt, eine echte verfälscht oder eine solche Urkunde zur Täuschung im Rechtsverkehr gebraucht.
Zählt eine gefälschte Unterschrift dazu?
Ja, sobald über den wahren Aussteller getäuscht wird. Auch zusammengesetzte Urkunden und bestimmte technische Aufzeichnungen können erfasst sein.
Welche Strafe droht?
Freiheitsstrafe bis zu fünf Jahren oder Geldstrafe, bei gewerbs- oder bandenmäßiger Begehung höher. Die Verteidigung setzt am Urkundenbegriff und am Täuschungsvorsatz an.
Muss ich zur Polizei, wenn ich als Beschuldigter vorgeladen werde?
Einer rein polizeilichen Police Summons müssen Sie als Beschuldigter nicht folgen, und Sie sind nie verpflichtet, sich zur Sache zu äußern. Einer Ladung der Staatsanwaltschaft oder des Gerichts sollten Sie folgen – schweigen dürfen Sie aber auch dort.
Sollte ich vor der Akteneinsicht aussagen?
In aller Regel nein. Ohne Kenntnis der Ermittlungsakte lässt sich nicht beurteilen, welche Beweise vorliegen. Eine Einlassung sollte erst nach Akteneinsicht und in Abstimmung mit dem Verteidiger erfolgen.
Kann ein Strafverfahren eingestellt werden?
Ja. Je nach Beweislage kommen eine Einstellung mangels hinreichenden Tatverdachts (§ 170 II StPO), wegen Geringfügigkeit (§ 153 StPO) oder gegen Auflagen (§ 153a StPO) in Betracht. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir die Möglichkeiten.
Summons or accusation of Forgery? What matters now
Make no statement to the police at first
As an accused person you are never obliged to comment on the allegation. Anything said to the police can be used against you. Provide statements only through your defense attorney and only after reviewing the case file.
File inspection comes first
A sound defense against the allegation of Forgery requires knowledge of the investigation file. Only once the available evidence is clear can we decide whether a statement is advisable or whether remaining silent is the better strategy.
Possible discontinuation of proceedings
Not every case ends in a main hearing. Depending on the evidence and any prior record, the proceedings may be discontinued for lack of sufficient suspicion (§ 170 II StPO), for triviality (§ 153 StPO) or subject to conditions (§ 153a StPO). Often a penalty order without a public trial can be achieved.
Victim-offender mediation and restitution
In many cases, victim-offender mediation or making good the damage (§ 46a StGB) can significantly reduce the sentence or enable a discontinuation. Whether this is advisable in your case is something we assess based on the file.
What we do after reviewing the file
We examine the evidence for reliability and admissibility, look for procedural errors, develop the defense strategy, negotiate with the public prosecutor on a discontinuation and represent you, if necessary, in the main hearing before the District Court or Regional Court of Bonn.
Available 24/7: +49 228 504 463 36
This information does not replace a review of the individual case. In criminal proceedings, the defence strategy depends substantially on the case file, the specific allegation and the evidence.
Why BAFTEH Strafverteidigung?
- Direct contact with your defense attorney – no intermediaries
- Available around the clock, including nights and weekends
- Fast file inspection and a clear defense strategy
- Focused exclusively on criminal law
- Defense in Bonn, Cologne and the entire region
Written by attorney Philip Bafteh, criminal defense lawyer in Bonn. Philip Bafteh publishes regularly on criminal and commercial law and defends accused persons in investigative and trial proceedings.
More about the attorney →Last updated: Mai 2026
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