Forgery under Michigan law involves what key action?

The key action that defines forgery under Michigan law is the act of altering or counterfeiting a document. Forgery typically involves the unlawful modification, reproduction, or creation of a document with the intent to deceive. This includes actions such as signing another person's name, altering the terms of a document, or replicating a document without authorization with the purpose of using it for fraudulent gain.

Understanding that forgery hinges on the intent to deceive is crucial. The focus is not solely on the act itself but on the underlying intention behind it, which is to mislead others into believing the document is authentic or has been duly authorized when it has not. This aligns with the broader legal framework of deception and fraud.

The other options pertain to actions that might be illegal but do not specifically define forgery as it is understood in Michigan law. For instance, transferring ownership of a property typically involves legal processes that may or may not involve forgery. Similarly, deleting information from a public record, while could be a form of misconduct, and creating legal documents without authorization relates more closely to practices like fraud or unauthorized practice of law rather than forgery itself.