Legal Definitions - fraud in the execution

Definition: Fraud in the execution occurs when a legal document is signed by someone who is misled about what they are signing. This can happen when the document is different from what they intended to sign or when they are told it is something else entirely. It is also known as fraud in the factum.

Examples:

• A blind person signs a mortgage document, but they are told it is just a letter. In reality, it is a legal document that they did not intend to sign.
• A person signs a contract, but the terms are different from what they agreed to. They were misled about the contents of the document.

These examples illustrate how fraud in the execution occurs when someone is deceived about the nature of the document they are signing. It is a serious offense because it undermines the validity of the legal document and can cause harm to the person who signed it.