What constitutes forgery in legal terms?

Forging a document involves intentionally making or altering a writing with the intent to deceive or mislead another person. This definition aligns with the legal standards for forgery, which focus on the intent behind the act, specifically the intention to defraud someone through the manipulation of written instruments. Forgery doesn't just involve altering a document; it must be coupled with the objective of deceiving another party into believing that the document is genuine or correct.

Other options may touch on aspects related to forgery, but they miss the key components. For example, simply changing a document without the specific intent to defraud does not meet the legal definition of forgery. Similarly, while creating documents to assist in criminal activities can have serious legal ramifications, it doesn't strictly concentrate on the act of altering a document itself with the intent to deceive. Lastly, transferring ownership without consent does not inherently involve forgery unless it involves a false document meant to mislead a party about the ownership. Thus, making or altering a writing with the clear intent to mislead captures the essence of forgery.