# What would be the legal penalty for a single "robosigning"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-legal-penalty-for-a-single-robosigning/610221>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 21, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-legal-penalty-for-a-single-robosigning/610221 "2012-01-21T16:03:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Linden\_Arden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-legal-penalty-for-a-single-robosigning/610221/1 "2012-01-21T16:03:27Z")

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Specifically, when a mortgage company uses an automated or proxy signer to initiate a foreclosure proceeding?

I have progressive friends who hate the banks and are convinced some bank CEO is headed to prison for such. I think they are delusional.

I say a state would fine an institution a small amount for each infraction.

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**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-legal-penalty-for-a-single-robosigning/610221/2 "2012-01-23T15:21:38Z")

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That’s a paddling!

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**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-legal-penalty-for-a-single-robosigning/610221/3 "2012-01-23T15:45:26Z")

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Get arrested by Robocop? Maybe be forced to watch Robocop.

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**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-legal-penalty-for-a-single-robosigning/610221/4 "2012-01-23T18:03:49Z")

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From [this AP article](http://news.yahoo.com/ap-exclusive-mortgage-robo-signing-goes-205459921.html) on robo-signing:

> [@](#):
>
> It is a federal crime to sign someone else’s name to a legal document. It is also illegal to sign your name to an affidavit if you have not verified the information you’re swearing to. Both are punishable by prison.