Which of the following best defines "forgery"?

The definition of "forgery" centers on the act of falsifying documents or signatures with the intent to deceive. This encompasses a range of activities where an individual creates, modifies, or reproduces documents or signatures to mislead another person or entity. Forgery is a criminal offense because it undermines trust and integrity in personal and business dealings, potentially causing financial harm to victims or impairing the legal process.

Falsification requires not just the act of creating or altering a document but also the intent behind it — specifically, the intent to deceive. This distinction is crucial, as simply creating a copy of a document without fraudulent intent does not constitute forgery. The focus on intent is what sets forgery apart from other actions related to documents, making option B the most accurate definition.