Signatures are used to show a person’s consent, whether it be for a real estate transaction, a medical document, or a marriage. When those signatures are forged, however, an individual’s life can be completely upended. That’s why handwriting experts (also known as forensic document examiners) are called upon to determine if a particular signature was forged or not.
What is forgery?
Simply put, forgery is the act of making a false document or altering a real one in such a way that the adaptions appear genuine. An entire painting, for example, can be forged by copying the original and selling it under the guise that it is the original painting. Handwriting can also be forged when an individual copies another person’s handwriting and signs a document in their place.
How can a handwriting expert help in a forgery case?
A handwriting expert focuses specifically on whether a signature or handwritten letter has or has not been forged. They do so by thoroughly analyzing the full handwriting of the person in question, looking for patterns and quirks in their handwriting and checking the document to see if it matches. A handwriting expert can then be called to testify as an expert witness on a case. However, it is important to note that while a forensic document examiner can testify if a document was forged, they cannot testify the intent of the person who forged the document.
Documents that can be checked for forgery by a forensic document examiner include:
- Wills
- Checks
- Contracts
- Threatening letters
- Suicide notes
- Any signed document
As a certified forensic document examiner with over 30 years of experience, I can help you determine the validity of a document in question. To learn more about my services, read over my FAQ or contact me today.