10.30 Altering a Document by Adding Unauthorized Changes

Company policy is to NEVER ALTER a document by making additions or modifications to a previously signed or initialed document without the consent of the party that the licensee represents (NEVER SIGN OR INITIAL FOR A CLIENT). Any alteration of a document is a form of misrepresentation. A licensee may be tempted to justify an unauthorized modification because it is minor or is in the best interest of the party he/she represents, such as a forgotten initial by a client. Alteration can occur in one of two ways: either addition or deletion of information or terminology, or changing existing information or terminology. It is important to understand that any modification of a document without the consent of the party to the document is unlawful and outside the scope of authority of a licensee.