What is defined as the fraudulent making or altering of a writing?

The definition of the fraudulent making or altering of a writing is clearly aligned with the concept of forgery. Forgery involves the intentional creation of a false document or the alteration of a genuine document with the aim to deceive and defraud another party. This crime not only requires the falsification of the writing but also typically involves an intent to benefit from the deception, such as through financial gain or altering legal implications.

In contrast, undue influence pertains to situations where one party overpowers another's decision-making ability, often in the context of wills or contracts, rather than the act of fabricating a document itself. Blackmail, on the other hand, involves threatening to disclose information unless a demand is met, which does not involve the creation or alteration of writing in a fraudulent manner. Coercion involves forcing someone to act against their will, which also diverges from the specific act of writing fraud.

Thus, forgery is the precise term that encompasses the fraudulent act of making or altering a written document.