Would someone witnessing a fraudulent document get in trouble?

[Iknowimwrongbutwouldhegetintrouble]

Just that really.

I've forged someone's name on a document (I know I am totally wrong for this but I have my reasons).

There will be no repercussions at all for the person who's name I forged. That person will never know (although they will 100% get me arrested if they ever discovered it out of spite).

I need this document witnessed, would the witness get into trouble for signing if it were ever discovered?

So the form your friend is signing hasn’t got your exes name forged by yourself on it at all? If so no the friend cannot get into trouble.

I've done something similar. Just forge the witness signature too, so that the only person who could potentially get into trouble is you.

I tried years ago and he refused any permission at all. It's been documented in the divorce stuff.

I didn't want to take the risk of contact, court or anything else, my dc has been known as 'new name' for years but anything official has old name on it, and they find it so upsetting so I've already done it now, I have everything here already, so probably already screwed up.

My main concern at this point is if friend signs it I don't want trouble to come their way.

I suppose I could forge the witness stuff myself, nobody will be benefitting financially, or anything like that, its literally my dcs mental health that I'm worried about.

A lot of dodgy witnessing going on by MNers and their husbands these days …

You haven’t read the information properly. It is saying that you do not need his consent.

A witness is there to say the people signing are who they say they are, so you will be committing fraud and your friend will be committing fraud. Regardless of the situation it’s still fraud and yes you could both get in trouble. You’re already committing fraud yourself by signing his name so if you don’t want to drag a friend into it why don’t you just forge her signature? Absolutely do not recommend doing that but why drag them into it.
edited to add say you and friend get caught and end up with a fine or even worse prison time, what about your child? Where do they go? Back to the abusive ex?

Do none of the points I quoted apply to you if you’ve been in refuge situations? I would get some proper advice on this - Citizen’s Advice can point you in the right direction. Also your DD can change her name officially herself when she is 18 with no need for permission for anyone. I would honestly seek some proper advice on how to go about this without his input so that you’re not putting anyone in an jeopardy.

She is not signing his name people.

She is not forging anything.

She has made an untrue statement about having gained his consent.

She is signing her own name and needs a witness for her own genuine signature.

In any event, she doesn’t need his consent.

The advice above from deedpoll.org says "may" be able to change the name. Honestly, having read a BBC news article where a Mother had to spend £30k going to court to stop her convicted imprisoned paedophile ex from retaining PR for their daughter despite being banned from having any contact with any other children I can see why people would absolutely forge signatures.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67425080

This is it.

I said online that ex consented.

Exes name isn't on the form, just mine.

Dc had a really bad day due to name not being changed formally, so I was upset and went on and did it, I have the forms already now.

Looks like I've messed up royally at this point if I could have done it legally without ex being contacted at all, but unfortunately my heart ruled my head and its done now.

It looks like friend wouldn't get into trouble though as it would just be my signature that would be witnessed, and that isn't fraudulent. There's nothing on the paperwork anywhere to say anything about ex so friend wouldn't have to worry at all.

I said online that ex consented.

How are you doing this though? The guidance at deedpoll.org.uk says that a signed letter of consent is needed after the online application is made.

There was just a part that asked about who had PR, and then asked if everyone with PR agreed to the change.

It never asked about a letter or anything.

Did your ex have pr

He does have PR.

We were married and he is on the birth certificate.

I looked at the online form. You have to send the letter. It’s explained in the notes. You answering yes to the online question “does everyone who has PR consent to the change?” triggers the system to expect a letter signed by you both.

Unless you go down the “I can’t contact him” route outlined above. I think you can still do that, and just say you selected the wrong option online, that will be no big deal.

Can I just discard the one I have since it hasn't been signed or witnessed yet, and apply again?

I just really don't want ex contacted at all.

If I'm honest I never fully read everything, I was upset, just did it, and recieved all the paperwork today, I've had a look through and it doesn't say anything about a letter or anything though. Just that when me and a witness sign it will all be legal and that I can choose to enroll it if I want.

I have no idea but the website is pretty clear - “after you have submitted your application form you will need to send us a letter of consent signed by everyone with parental responsibility for the child” and they link to the template. Click on the image to read it properly.

Have I been hoodwinked by this person? I feel duped and really stupid. Anyone here with legal experience, advice please.
A work colleague who i hardly know asked me to sign a document last week for her as a witness to her signature. I obliged but afterwards I wasn't sure if I should've been so obliging. I asked her what it was and she kinda just poo pooed it saying it was something to do with her new flat. She didn't really take the time to explain and the form was folded over so i couldn't see anything.
I was going to put our workplace address in the address part but she laughed saying oh no your Home address. I felt really uncomfortable but in hindsight I should have refused. She's worked there over 2 years and is very friendly with other colleagues. Why couldn't she wait for one of them the next day? I've only been there a month...wtf! I'm feeling very uncomfortable about it. I haven't told my Husband yet.
There was just the 2 of us in the office that day and she pounced when we had a quiet moment. I feel I need to get a copy of what I've signed for. Please help!!

n properly. When it came

@MrsHench did you see her sign?
If you were indeed signing as a witness then all that matters is that you saw her sign the document. You have not signed up to anything as a party. Your only role is that of someone who, if asked, could confirm she was the one who signed.

She was wrong to fold the document over and to rush you but it’s unlikely to be anything dodgy.

@Unopenedpackofmenssocks
No, I didn't actually see her sign it which is worrying. I was in the middle of my work and she called me over to her desk. But why did my address need to added? I will have to go back to her and query it all. I feel like I've been blindsided. This sort of thing should not be allowed especially at work. She caught me off guard, I'm new and I'm training.
She's been training me for last 2 months, so why me? She probably thinks I'm soft touch now, happy to oblige any request. What an idiot!

Witnesses have to put their address so they can be contacted if there are any queries about the signature. That’s standard.

But you did not witness the signature. To be honest lots of people totally misunderstand that the witness has to actually watch them sign. It’s impossible to know just by looking at the document that the witness did not witness the signature and 99 times out of 100 it doesn’t matter. If you are feeling brave you could point this out to her. Can’t you just share your concerns with her? Sounds like she is unlikely to have done anything dodgy, she’s just a bit lax about the formalities, probably because her conveyancer didn’t explain it properly. Unless she was pretending to be someone else it’s no big deal. She probably folded the document over because she didn’t want you to know the value if her house.