Can my ex-husband accuse me of forgery for a loan he co-signed?

Full question:

Enter your question here...I got a business loan in 2005 for some equipment. It will be paid off Dec 2012. I was married at the time. Apparently my ex-husband is on the loan with me. I didn't remember this at all. I was building my office had just paid off land etc. My husband recently had a courtesy call from the company because his number was on file. When he realized he was on this loan, he became very upset. He swears I forged it. I only signed his name at times when he was gone and told me to sign and I can't believe I would have ever signed a loan. I am waiting on the company to send me the papers. I can't find mine as it has been over 5 years. I am paying the loan monthly on time. It has 22 payments left. Can he really have me arrested for forgery? We got a divorce a year ago. As you can tell, it wasn't a pleasant one and he is already married to his mistress. Is there a statute of limitations on this? I don't believe I ever signed anything like this for him.

  • Category: Criminal
  • Subcategory: Forgery
  • Date:
  • State: Alabama

Answer:

To be charged with forgery, you would need to have signed your ex-husband's name or caused someone else to do so with the intent to defraud. In Alabama, there is no statute of limitations for forgery. The relevant Alabama statutes are:

Forged documents include:

  • First-degree forgery: Involves false creation or alteration of government-issued instruments (Class B felony).
  • Second-degree forgery: Involves false creation or alteration of contracts, deeds, and other legal documents (Class C felony).
  • Third-degree forgery: Involves false creation or alteration of written instruments (Class A misdemeanor).

Since you are currently making payments on the loan and are waiting for documentation from the lender, you should review those documents once received. It's important to gather all relevant information to address your ex-husband's claims effectively.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

If you can't pay back a business loan, the lender may take several actions. They might charge late fees, report the delinquency to credit bureaus, or initiate collection efforts. In severe cases, they could file a lawsuit against you to recover the owed amount. If the loan is secured, the lender may seize collateral. It's essential to communicate with your lender to discuss options like restructuring the loan or setting up a payment plan.