Which degree is specified for the offense of misrepresenting a notarized document when the offender intends to mislead a public servant?

• A. Second degree
• B. First degree
• C. Third degree
• D. Fourth degree

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how the degree of a Texas offense reflects the level of harm and the offender’s intent, especially when the target is a public servant. If someone misrepresents a notarized document with the specific purpose of misleading a public servant, that shows a high level of intent to interfere with government processes. Texas treats that as a very serious offense and classifies it as a first-degree felony, the highest standard level short of a capital felony. First-degree felonies carry substantial penalties (typically 5 to 99 years in prison and fines up to $10,000), which matches the seriousness of trying to deceive someone in a government role.

Lower degrees would apply to less harmful forms of fraud or misrepresentation, or when the intent to mislead a public servant isn’t present.