What kind of jail time can be expected for a fraudulent will?

My neighbor's husband died without a will, but she wanted to make sure the children from his first marriage inheritted nothing, even though I don't think they had anything. Anyway, it looks like she created a will, had two other neighbors "witness" it, and another neighbor notarized it. I realize if it's proven, the estate will go into probate, but what could happen to the wife and others involved?

Forgery is a felony. Wife could be prosecuted and the witnesses could be charged as accessories.

Under Pennsylvania law, 18 Consolidated Pennsylvania Statutes, 搂 4101. Forgery

(a) Offense defined.--A person is guilty of forgery if, with intent to defraud or injure anyone, or with knowledge that he is facilitating a fraud or injury to be perpetrated by anyone, the actor:

(1) alters any writing of another without his authority;

(2) makes, completes, executes, authenticates, issues or transfers any writing so that it purports to be the act of another who did not authorize that act, or to have been executed at a time or place or in a numbered sequence other than was in fact the case, or to be a copy of an original when no such original existed; or

(3) utters any writing which he knows to be forged in a manner specified in paragraphs (1) or (2) of this subsection.


(b) Definition.--As used in this section, the word "writing" includes printing or any other method of recording information, money, coins, tokens, stamps, seals, credit cards, badges, trademarks, electronic signatures and other symbols of value, right, privilege, or identification.


(c) Grading.--Forgery is a felony of the second degree if the writing is or purports to be part of an issue of money, securities, postage or revenue stamps, or other instruments issued by the government, or part of an issue of stock, bonds or other instruments representing interests in or claims against any property or enterprise. Forgery is a felony of the third degree if the writing is or purports to be a will, deed, contract, release, commercial instrument, or other document evidencing, creating, transferring, altering, terminating or otherwise affecting legal relations. Otherwise forgery is a misdemeanor of the first degree.


How much time they get will depend on a state's sentencing guidelines.