How do you find the jurisdiction of the crime/fraud? Two agencies say it is other’s jurisdiction and not theirs. So who decides?

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by Grant St. Jullian III

February 4, 2016

Asked 2/3/2016 – Fort Worth, TX

There is a crime of document forgery with related to a property. And the property is in (let us say for example) Tarrant County. But the document was signed/prepared/notarized in Dallas County. So where the crime occurred and which agency responsible for investigating? It looks like notary was part of the fraud to sign such documents.

The law enforcement agency of the city where the notary lives says the place where the document was notarized/prepared is the jurisdiction and but another agency (larger) says it is not their jurisdiction? So how a crime is decided on the jurisdiction ?

1. Is it based on the property involved (so the police /county of the property) is responsible for investigation?
or
2. Is it based on the location of the occurrence of the crime (in this case the notarization/preparation of the document)?

Answer

The county where the property is located is where the case should be filed, in my opinion. Contact law enforcement of that county to begin the process.

About the author 

Grant St. Jullian III

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering – 1979 Univ. of Pennsylvania
Doctor of Jurisprudence 1982 University of Texas @ Austin
Licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas since 1982.

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