A Document is usually questioned because of it's origin, it's contents, or the circumstances and story regarding its production.

Today with the commonplace use of the Internet and the availability of personal information that is easily obtained by "tricksters" the opportunities for fraud are escalating at a frightening pace and no let up is in sight.

In an investigation of a questioned document the conscientious and competent specialist is the representative of justice and he should appreciate the responsibility of his position.

The majority of documents that come under scrunity today concern, not so much the actual document but, the writing on the document, specificaly the signature.

It would be a travesty indeed for one to undertake the identification of genuine vs. fradulent signature without at least the very basic information on how handwriting is transferred from the thought  process to the actual document.  It should be clearly understood that the chief source of error in reaching a scientific conclusion is the inability or lack of knowledge on the part of the examiner to fully navigate the facts.

To often the investigation of what is in fact a genuine signature or of what is in fact a crude forgery , is not taken up in a scientific investigation but is claimed to be one or the other on pure influence from others who are advocates of parties involved.

The examination of a signature is taken far to lightly and "expert opinions" have come from those who have claimed to have seen the writing before and give testimony on the grounds of familiarity.  Knowledge of the  complexities of an examination are a must for any "professional" who undertakes the responsibility of analysis.

  The pages on this web site deal not with the document itself but focus on the signature, the physiology and psychology of handwriting.  If one goes no farhter than to read the following information as to procedure in examining a "simple questioned signature" or writing, there will have to be agreement that to offer an opinion without due process would be aiding the crime under scrutiny.

Procedure:  The thorough exainer gives careful attention to all of these questions no matter what the main inquiry may be.  He later may be blamed for not finding what he was not asked to look for.  The examiner must determine:

1   Is the signature genuie

2   Is the signature in a natural position

3   Does the writing touch other writing

4   Are witness writing genuine

5   Is the body of the document genuine

6  Does any of the writing appear disguised

7  Are the standards/exemplars genuine

8  Is the signature embossed on the back

9  Has the document been wet

10 Was the signature written 1st or last

11 How many times was the document folded

12 Was the signature written before or after folding

13 Which way was the document folded

14 Is the signature of a different design

15 Is the signature consistent with "time"

16 Is the ink consistent with "time"

17 Are there "watermarks"

18 If several sheets were used, are they the same size

19 Is paper ruled and consistent

20 Was the paper torn, burned or mutilated in any way

21 Is the paper of unusual size

22 Was the paper stapled (how many times)

23 Is paper soiled or crumpled

24 Is the paper unusual in any way

25 Are there discolorations

26 Was the paper torn or burned

27 Are there abrasions, chemical residue, substitutions or alterations

28 Is paper normal when viewed with transmitted light

29 Are there offsets of any kind

30 Where and  what machine made all copies, same or different

31 Was the document wet in any way

32 Are there accidental pencil or other marks evident

33  What kind of machine process made copies (copy, press etc)

34 Were all documents made on same device

35 Was each sheet written sequentially

36 Is history consistent with dates

37 Are there added figures or words

38 Is text typed by a skilled operator

39 Are indentations , spacing, Margins, punctuation consistent  

40 Can production of documents be verified

41 Is connection of pages consistent

42 Do perforations agree with stub

43 If carbon, is size consistent

44 Does printing or ruling conform

45 If document is a letter, does post mark, postage, stamps, envelope or manner of resealing or opening have any significance

46 Was writing blotted

47 Are there any indentations

48 Is sequence of ink, pin holes or cancellation marks consistent

49 Is rubber stamp consistent

50 Do eyelets, sates, fasteners have any significance

51 Are notary seals consistent

52 Do names, street addresses or events correlate or have any significance.

53 DID YOU CHECK FOR LATENT FINGER PRINTS.       
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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