About Forensic Document Examination

How is forensic document examination different from graphology ?

Graphologists analyze handwriting to interpret the writer's character and personality. Forensic document examination involves handwriting comparison to determine authorship and examination of a document as a whole. This analysis can include examination of typewritten or machine-generated documents; detection of alterations; decipherment of obliterated and indented writing; examination of watermarks, rubber stamps, and other impressions; and ink differentiation.
 

What is a Document ?
While we think for the most part of a document as being written on paper, anything that contains and conveys information constitutes a document..  Therefore, messages inscribed on cardboard, wood or stone; graffiti on walls, mirror writing or even body writing are all documents that can be offered as evidence.  The writing instrument used to produce a document can be a pen, pencil, marker, chisel or spray can -- or a typewriter.
 

What does the word Forensic mean?
The word “Forensic” means the application of science to law. So a Forensic Document Examiner (also known as Questioned Document Examiner) discovers and develops evidence from a document or signature that can be used in a court of law. The handwriting expert’s job is to determine whether handwriting/printing is authentic or forged, and to identify or eliminate a person as an author.
 

What is a forgery?
A forgery is an imitation or alteration of a document, handwriting or signature, being represented as being an original, with intent to defraud.
 

What is an exemplar?
An exemplar is a handwriting sample that is known to be genuine. Exemplars are compared with questioned material in order to determine the authenticity or spuriousness of what is questioned. The authenticity of the exemplar must be verifiable. Genuineness of the exemplars can be proven by the admission of the person who wrote it, by witnesses who saw the person writing or who heard the person acknowledge his handwriting, or by acceptance of the documents in the normal course of business. An exemplar is also called a standard.
 

Is Forensic Document Examination testimony accepted in courts?
Handwriting identification has been recognized and accepted by the courts as far back as A.D.539. In the US, it has been accepted in the courts, as substantial evidence, for over 180 years.


What certification does a document examiner have to have in order to testify in a court of law?
The judge will make that decision based solely upon the experience and credentials of the document examiner.
 

How can forensic document examiners help attorneys and law enforcement officers?
Lawyers benefit from an FDEs' specialized knowledge of literature in the questioned document field. This knowledge will assist lawyers in preparing meaningful direct examination questions for their own experts and cross-examination questions for opposing experts.

About the Premises of Handwriting Identification

What is Handwriting ?
Handwriting is a neuromuscular process that originates in the brain.  Some researchers have called it "brain writing". 
 

What makes document examination / handwriting identification possible?
Handwriting is brain writing. No two people write exactly the same.

Over the years, through a gradual accumulation of knowledge there has come the understanding that each person's writing contains certain individual characteristics. The fact that each person’s handwriting contains individual differences is the fundamental principle on which handwriting comparisons are based, and on which testimony is given in and accepted by courts of law.

The basis of this principle is simple and logical. The natural and subconscious handwriting characteristics developed by the individual are a product both of the movements of the hand which writes, and the mind which directs the writing. These two influences result in an infinite number of possible combinations of individual writing habits, each combination representing the sum of numerous physiological and psychological factors peculiar to the writer.

There are some complicating factors, which must be considered in the comparison process. First, no individual can write exactly the same way twice. This is called natural variation and a reasonable amount of it is indicative of genuine writing. The problem arises when variations present in the questioned writing are not represented in the known writings collected by the investigator. It then becomes difficult to determine whether these dissimilarities are variations not included in the known writings submitted, or differences which indicate that another writer was actually involved.

Another complication is that all writers have the ability to intentionally alter their "habitual" writing characteristics to some degree. This ability may be used by criminals to attempt to disguise their writing to avoid identification or to simulate (or copy) the writing habits of someone else to effect a forgery.

And third, there may be a superficial and pictorial resemblance in the writings of two persons. This may be due to such influences as childhood training in similar styles of penmanship, the use of certain letter formations, the "family" resemblance which sometimes occurs among writings of members of the same family, or a deliberate attempt to imitate the writing of another.

In most cases, the success of the handwriting comparison is directly related to the quantity and quality of the known material submitted for comparison. For litigation purposes it is important to know whether the normal process has in any way been impeded either through the use of medication or drugs, or through illness or extreme old age. A detailed and expert analysis will, as a rule, reveal the hidden automatic, entirely individual characteristics on which the document examiner bases his conclusion - a definite scientific opinion based on the elements contained in the documents themselves..
 

How do people attempt forgeries?
The most common methods employed to disguise writing/printing included changes in slope, size, angularity, approach strokes, upper and lower extensions, capital letters, lower case letters and numbers. The arrangement of the writing and the spacing usually does not materially change in any of the specimens as an attempt to disguise. Alignment of the signature to the writing lines is unaffected by attempts at disguise. Changes in arrangement and in alignment are rarely considered by the person attempting to disguise

Successful disguise depends upon the type and quantity of the writing/printing in question and the intelligence and manual dexterity of the perpetrator. The average person cannot continue to disguise writing/printings on many pages at the same sitting.

A subject who is attempting to disguise his/her writings/printings will frequently and subconsciously revert to his/her own natural writing/printing style even with the conscious and willful awareness of intentional disguise. Also, when someone tries to disguise their writing/printing,  they become self-conscious of a once automatic act and thus cause the handwriting/handprinting to display unnatural letter-stroke formations. These can be detected by careful examination and scrutiny.

What Else is Examined Besides Handwriting

What can be determined from Physical Matching (Paper, stamps, Tape, etc.)?

• Whether two pieces of paper were at one time a single unit.
• If a stamp came from a specific stamp book or roll.
• If a piece of tape came from a specific roll of tape.
• Whether a tablet paper can from a certain tablet.

What can be determined from Charred & Water Damaged Documents?

• The text of a charred document can be visualized.
• Faded writing on water damaged documents can be visualized.
• There are methods for drying documents to minimize damage.

What can be determined from Mechanical Printing Methods?

• How a counterfeit document was produced.
• What type of printing method an investigator should be looking for.
• Whether the document is genuine or not.
• Identify the specific device that produced the document.

What can be determined from Copy Machine Identification?

• Identify a specific copy machine that produced a photocopy.
• Trace the copy machine that produced a color photocopy.
• Identify the photocopy process used to make a photocopy.
• Determine if two photocopies were produced on the same photocopy machine.

What can be determined from Erasures, Alterations & Obliteration’s?

• Visualize the text of obliterated material.
• Visualize the original text of altered material.
• Determine if material had been erased and possibly visualize that text.

What can be determined from Indented Markings (Writings)?

• Visualize the indented material on a harassing or threatening letter.
• Visualize the indented material on tablets or notepads.

What can be determined from Ink Examinations ?

• Determine if two inks are similar or different.
• Determine the age of ink deposited on the paper.

What can be determined from sequence of line crossings and folds?

• In what order were handwriting, marks, or printed text place on a document.
• Was a document folded before or after the paper was folded.

What can be determined form Water Marks?

• Determination of time period paper was made.
• Determine where paper was made.
• Trace unusual papers.
• Differentiate between papers.

 

About My Services

Why should I hire you?
I have a unique distinction of combining 30 years of medical experience with a practice in Legal Nurse Consulting. Thus, I have a long-established skill of applying scientific principles to complement my knowledge of the legal system. Additionally, I train under some of the best and well-known handwriting experts in the country. Therefore, I can draw from the experiences and knowledge of each of them.

I also offer a FREE initial consultation visit for all cases - not just new clients. A majority of document examiners require hundreds, and even thousands of dollars in advance before they will even LOOK at a document. I never charge you for services that are not rendered. Expert witness testimony is available as a further benefit to resolving your case.
 

How much do you charge, as an expert,  to render an opinion?
I work on retainer fee, like a lawyer. My retainer is $590, unless you want a verbal opinion only. Then the retainer is $295. Upon the conclusion of my investigation, I will contact you with a verbal opinion. If my opinion is found in your favor, I will also supply you with a notarized letter stating my opinion. If not, then the balance of the retainer fee that applies to written opinion will be refunded to you ($295). All other charges are dependent on the type of case and whether the case goes to court. I can discuss the details of such charges during your free initial consultation visit.
See the Fee Schedule page for a complete list.
 

Can I fax the handwriting samples over to you or do you need the originals?
Many of my cases are done by way of the fax machine. The originals are always better. I will be able to find out information from the originals that cannot be found with photocopies or faxes. If you feel your case will go to court, having the originals will provide the best case for winning in court. Please locate the original documents if available.
 

Can you tell if the signature on this check is forged?
Yes! This is the main question we are asked to determine is," Is the signature on this document a forgery or not?"  There are many different types of forgeries that are committed. Basically the two types are a traced forgery or a simulated one. Depending on the type of forgery suspected; I will use my skills to decipher the two important questions. One, is it a forgery, and two, how was it performed. There are many tests that can be used to determine which type of forgery has been utilized on the document. In fact, the signature could really be "yours"! The forger may not attempt to simulate your signature, but instead takes one of your originals and "pastes" it onto a document; thus committing the forgery.
 

I’m not going to go to court with this.  I just really want to know for myself if a particular person sent this to me.
Not a problem we get many such requests. After careful examination I will know if the writings were done by the same person or a different person.
 

I have a court case in this matter; can you testify as an expert witness?
Yes. The basic rules of an expert witness to testify in court is that that person can prove to the court that he or she has an expertise greater than what would be expected of the average individual for the area of expertise he or she will testify to. I have the skills and expertise to testify to cases involving forgeries with respect to handwriting, signatures and typewriter fraud.

If my situation goes to court - which it probably will, how much do you charge to testify?
Refer to my fee schedule for an entire detailed list. The cost will depend on the amount of court exhibits needed, the amount of travel to the jurisdiction of the court, the amount of preparation and the complexity of the case. Some are quite simple while others are very detailed.

What certification does a document examiner have to have in order to testify in a court of law?
Each expert witness is qualified in a court of law by decision of the judge The judge will make that decision based solely upon the experience and credentials of the document examiner. There is currently no national certification for document examiners. All professional organizations for document examiners require at least a two-year apprenticeship with a full-time qualified examiner.

Will your opinion be accepted in a court of law?
Again, each expert witness is qualified in a court of law by decision of the judge - frequently on a case-by-case basis. Once the court accepts my qualifications, my opinion will be admissible.

Disclaimer: We are not attorneys.  We do not dispense legal advice in any fashion.  We only comment on our experiences as it relates to cases we have personally been involved in regarding handwriting, forgeries, or expert witnesses.  If you want legal advice, you must consult a licensed attorney in your state.

© 2005 DIANA KING, RN, LNC, Forensic Document Examiner. All rights reserved.