My office partner, Manny Gonzales is a former law enforcement officer and private investigator. He sometimes refers to us as being forgery detectives. That’s a moniker that most can relate to, but we reserve it for casual conversation with laypeople. We are experts in handwriting and also in determining the origin and production methods of documents, including whether any tampering or alterations have been made in the process. All of these skills demand an inquiring mind and a full mental databank of comparison material from which to draw.

In the “old days” of law enforcement,  any document that was suspected of being non-genuine was labeled, “Questioned.” Therefore, we handwriting experts/document examiners were referred to as Questioned Document Examiners. As the name implies, we examined documents in question. Once the word, “forensic” became the popular label applied to evidence analysis, the word, “questioned”  was dropped from the descriptor in favor of our current title, Forensic Document Examiner. In the interest of preserving a bit of history, however, I have retained the QDE as part of an email address and as the license plate on my work vehicle.

• Main Reasons for Questioned Document Examination
• Finding the Right Kind of Handwriting Expert
• How Can I Prove Forged Signatures Aren’t Mine
• What Training Does a Forensic Handwriting Expert Need?
• Choosing the Right Forensic Document Examiner Can Make or Break a Case
• Finding a Trusted Source for Forensic Document Analysis
• Can a Document Examiner Help Clear My Name?

For more information or help with your document examination you may wish to contact me at ALLIANCE FORENSIC SERVICES in Escondido, CA. 888-760-0339

Sorry to say, this is not an uncommon call at our office. In spite of what the layman may think, a proper document examination can rarely be completed in a matter of minutes. An analysis goes far beyond the surface appearance of letter shapes and size or even letter styles. Peculiarities such as how letters are attached to each other, where the pen lifts from the page and what direction the line moves are just a few of the over 35 different characteristics and nuances that we consider when comparing genuine writing to writing in question.

After all, if you were going to forge a person’s name, what would you make sure to do? If it were me, I would make try to reproduce the general appearance of the writing – perhaps copy the flourish in the capital letters or cross the “t” in just the same distinctive manner as the real writer. These touches may throw the average person off, but are far from convincing to a Forensic Document Examiner. In fact, the obvious characteristics are probably among the last ones I consider when doing a comparison.

The devil is in the details.

I want to take the time and concentration to seek out as many of those devilish details as are available in the evidence at hand. If I work with original documents, there should be plenty of details to examine. If there is only a copy to look at, much of the detail is replaced by black toner, leaving only a two-dimensional image to interpret. Either way, there is plenty to do for which I will need the time to accomplish my tasks.

One more thing to think about before you ask your document examiner to stand on her head and recite the Declaration of Independence…

Have you ever pondered a problem for awhile, only to wake up the next morning with a great answer to your dilemma? Well, that is often what happens in document examining. A great deal of circumspection is applied to the process of examining handwriting. Once the characteristics are identified, the findings must be properly interpreted and weighed before an opinion can be given. After all, some features and combinations are far more individualizing than others. I must search through my mental database to make those determinations. Sometimes, it is clear what the answer is; other times formulating an expert opinion takes some real work or even includes some research. In any case, pressure to hurry an examination probably will not produce faster results, only aggravation for the expert.

So, plan ahead, please. Your Document Examiner will thank you.

For more information or help with your handwriting signature analysis or document examination you can contact me at ALLIANCE FORENSIC SERVICES in Escondido, CA. 888-760-0339

Evidently, it is a common misconception that besides verifying the identity of the signatories, the Notary Public is responsible for verifying that a signed document is truly what it is purported to be. NOT SO.

A Notary Public is a representative of the Secretary of State. Her job is to verify the identity of the signatory and assure that the signer understands the contents of the document he is signing and is doing so of his own free will. Secondarily, she confirms that the document(s) is filled out in full.  A Notary Public is not responsible for the integrity of the document.

For our purposes, let’s assume that the Notary has done her job – she has obtained the proper ID and assured that the documents are in order.

So, back to the original question… (How in the world can a notarized document be “forged”?) The key to the answer may be the word, “copy.” Chances are that the document you possess is a copy of the original; the original has already been submitted. You would think that a photocopy of a document is a reliable representation of the original document, but that isn’t necessarily what ends up happening. Any part of the document could have been altered and recopied. Sometimes the alteration is done so well it takes an expert to sort out the changes.

This calls for the services of a Forensic Document Examiner.

We welcome all kinds of calls to our office. No question is stupid unless you don’t ask it. What is particularly stupid is to assume that things will work out, or that your attorney will take the problem off your hands.
Call me first and I will help you understand where a document examiner fits into the picture and why the fees you pay for determining if there has been a forgery can save you lots of time and money in the long run.
Attorneys, if you have never before used the services of a document examiner, I like to make the process as professional and efficient as possible. I am happy to help you understand how you can use my expertise in strategizing your case.

For more information or help with your handwriting signature analysis or forensic document examination you can contact me at ALLIANCE FORENSIC SERVICES in Escondido, CA. 888-760-0339

Have you ever tried using the internet to find someone who could determine if the handwriting on your document is authentic? What do you search for? The average person might type in “Handwriting Expert”. The resulting list of websites could include people who teach children how to write in cursive, personality analysts and expert witnesses.

Allow me to clear up a few of the misconceptions about Handwriting Experts.

If you want someone to come to your party and entertain your guests by analyzing their handwriting and describing their personalities you probably want a graphologist. According to Wikipedia, “Graphology is the pseudoscientific study and analysis of handwriting, especially in relation to human psychology.” Other services provided by a graphologist can include personality profiling for personal enrichment, employment or jury selection.  In this context, a graphologist considers himself a handwriting expert of sorts. They may even advertise themselves as handwriting experts. Some graphologists ascribe to the notion that by changing ones handwriting characteristics, a writer can change his personality traits; these people call themselves Grapho-Therapists.

DO NOT confuse either one of these with a Handwriting Expert, a properly-trained person who is qualified to scientifically examine, analyze and identify handwriting and testify to his or her expert opinion in court.

In North America, the term, Handwriting Expert is used in conjunction with Forensic Document Examiner (FDE). An FDE has been thoroughly trained in a hands-on full time internship for at least 24 months by an experienced FDE. The FDE uses various scientific means to establish the authenticity or otherwise verify documents or the integrity of their contents. Handwriting identification, inter-comparisons or other handwriting issues are the most common questions requiring the skills of a document examiner. Therefore, many FDE’s are described as Handwriting Experts.

Here are a few questions you can ask if you interview a potential Handwriting Expert for a case you have that involves verifying the identity of a writer or comparing writings in multiple documents:

• Where did you get your training? The answer should be that training was provided by an approved document lab or under the auspices of a seasoned document examiner. Training in graphology does not qualify a person as a Handwriting Expert.
• Do you belong to any professional organizations? Do your homework. Be sure that the organization is not just an advertising or networking group.
• Get references and follow up on them.

For more information or help with your handwriting signature analysis or document examination you can contact me at ALLIANCE FORENSIC SERVICES in Escondido, CA. 888-760-0339

• Finding the Right Kind of Handwriting Expert
• How Can I Prove Forged Signatures Aren’t Mine
• What Training Does a Forensic Handwriting Expert Need?

Forensic Document Expert

You have found yourself in a situation where you need to consult with an expert. Your case requires the resolution of an issue  in order to proceed. Now the question is, how do you find the right expert?

Referral Agencies

Since you are reading this blog, you obviously are using the internet. If you do a quick search for an expert you will likely find a list of referral agencies. Referral agencies are a good place to start a search for an expert. Also check your local bar association website for their expert listings. Generally, the referral sites provide information about experts for various genres and sub-categories of expert, such as medical, legal, construction, maritime, etc. By searching for the category, specialty and sometimes the location of a given expert, the site provides the names and backgrounds of each person listed. Here is a sampling of what I found on the first page of a Google search: www.freereferral.com, www.almexperts.com, www.tasanet.com, www.roundtablegroup.com, www.hgexperts.com. And, there are many more …

As you may well imagine, not all referral agencies are created equal. Most rely on paid advertising to pay the bills. Therefore, anyone paying the annual fee gets listed in the categories of their choice. So it is logical to deduce that choosing an expert listed on one of these sites will take more than just calling the boldest listing. A closer look at the credentials of each expert listed may give you some clues as to their experience and training, but that should be just the beginning of your quest.

Professional Organizations

You may also try to search for an expert through a national, state or local professional organization in the genre of interest. Many such organizations have membership rosters or a referral service. There again, it helps to have an idea of how credible the organization is before relying on their listing of members. Perhaps some of the questions to ask are -

1. What are the requirements for membership? No matter what, there are costs involved in managing any organization. Besides dues, you will want to know that the organization in question has an established protocol for accepting members.

2. Is there continuing education required? For some, the meaning of “professional” includes an ongoing learning process, both individually and within the genre’s society. If the organization is established as promoting a given profession, it will either offer or strongly suggest regular continuing education training.

3. What is the purpose of the organization? Some organizations exist for the sole purpose of marketing and networking for its members. Professional organizations have as their purpose either training and education, self-regulation, professional enrichment or public service (or a combination of these). A professional organization is more likely to be a reliable source of a credible expert.

Personal Referral

There is nothing better than to be referred to an expert through an acquaintance who has had a favorable experience with a certain expert. Sometimes it takes a few phone calls to track down someone who has needed such an expert. From him, you can gain first-hand information of the strengths and weaknesses of the expert. A good place to ask around is in legal circles. Attorneys, paralegals, private investigators, insurance investigators and other involved in civil and criminal court proceedings employ experts regularly and may be able to direct you to someone who will help you find just the right person for your case. At any rate, it is still a good idea to independently research the credentials of your potential expert. Your success may depend on your expert’s abilities and experience.

For more information or help with your handwriting signature analysis or document examination you can contact me at ALLIANCE FORENSIC SERVICES in Escondido, CA. 888-760-0339

• Questioned Document Examination in the Digital Age
• Main Reasons for Questioned Document Examination
• Finding the Right Kind of Handwriting Expert
• How Can I Prove Forged Signatures Aren’t Mine
• What Training Does a Forensic Handwriting Expert Need?
• Choosing the Right Forensic Document Examiner Can Make or Break a Case
• Finding a Trusted Source for Forensic Document Analysis
• Can a Document Examiner Help Clear My Name?

If you have ever contacted a forensic document examiner with an issue of authentication or a question about a possible change made to a document, one of the first questions she will ask is, “Do you have the originals or just copies?”

Many times, the original document is nowhere to be found. I hear this most often when there is a signature in question. This is especially true with bank records and documents that are submitted to county offices. All that I have to work with is a copy. Or worse, a copy of a copy of a copy…

In the absence of original documents, the analysis of a questioned document is limited to the features that survive the copying process. This can be likened to identifying a person behind a cloudy window; the basics are there, but details are missing. What we call the “three-dimensionality” of the original document is lost. Not to mention that if the copy is a copy of a copy, the details become increasingly difficult to verify.

So, with this understanding, here are some of the highlights of why the level of certainty of an expert opinion is affected by having only copies to analyze.

Loss of detail – intricate pen direction

Pen direction is a very critical factor in the evaluation of handwriting. Copies make it difficult and sometimes impossible to follow intricate writing movements essential for reaching accurate conclusions. Not only is direction important, but also the pressure of the writing instrument can tell us more about the condition of the writer and the writing surface.

Overall loss of detail – beginning and ending strokes

Natural writing is frequently demonstrated by the tapered beginning and ending strokes. The copying process can eliminate these tapered strokes and make them appear as blunt or chopped off in an otherwise naturally executed signature. Sometimes, blunt ending and beginning strokes are characteristics of “signatures” produced through simulation (emulation) or tracing process.

Loss of detail – evaluation of line quality

A photocopy of a genuine signature may show “lumpiness” or lack of smooth, clear-cut strokes, resulting in poor line quality (record of the strokes), when in reality the original document may contain good line quality upon examination. An early-generation photocopy, in some cases, may embody good line quality and be used as a basis for a tentative or qualified opinion.

Unexpected visual results

If a genuine signature is written under uncommon circumstances, the copying process may make it appear as containing the “tremor of fraud,” giving the appearance of poor line quality. With the examination of the original questioned document, it may be possible to determine that there is an explanation for what appeared to be poor line quality in the copy. For example, one may find that in the copy of the signature appeared tremulous because it was written on a rough surface such as a briefcase, the hood of a car or other textured surface.

Hesitations

Hesitations, a pause in the writing line, generally cannot be detected in copies. Hesitations are common artifacts of “forged” signatures or can be a habit of the true writer. With only copies for evidence, this significant characteristic cannot be determined.

Patching

Patching is the careful retouching sometimes seen in “forged” signatures as a result of the “forger’s” perception that the simulation or tracing needs some mending to pass it off as genuine. It is also seen in some people’s natural writing but generally cannot be detected and evaluated in copies.

Fraudulent manipulations

Evidence of cut-and-paste of a genuine signature from a genuine document onto the questioned document cannot always be detected, especially if the genuine signature was added by using computer software.

Tracings

Traced signature “guidelines” consisting of pencil, carbon or indentations produced with a stylus which correspond with the outline of the genuine signature cannot be conclusively established via the examination of a copy.

Writing Instrument

While sometimes it is possible with photocopies to make a preliminary determination as to the type of writing instrument used, a definitive determination cannot be made without the original document.

Paper

Paper can sometime be dated as to its first date of availability through use of watermarks, but obviously this determination cannot be made based on photocopies. Neither can the document be compared as to any other physical characteristics such as the thickness or color value of the paper.

Indentations

Occasionally, “indented writings” can be detected with oblique/side lighting or by using a laboratory device on original documents, revealing key information that could resolve some critical issue. While this technique can be applied to photocopies for other purposes, it will not reveal the indentations that are present in the original document.

Measurements

Accurate measurements cannot be made on photocopies. As a rule, photocopiers do not precisely reproduce the document being copied. Copies impede the reliability of tests that include measuring lines and spaces to determine alterations or insertions in a document.

Three-dimensional vs. two-dimensional images

Photocopies are two-dimensional representations of original documents which are three-dimensional. Originals disclose all of the physical and optical features of the printing processes and handwriting features. On the other hand, photocopies are high contrast images which leave out all of the mid-tones present in the original images.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Originals are always the best evidence. For a more productive result, try to provide originals, both questioned documents and known samples, for your document examination as soon as they become available.

For more information or help with your handwriting signature analysis or document examination you can contact me at ALLIANCE FORENSIC SERVICES in Escondido, CA. 888-760-0339

• Questioned Document Examination in the Digital Age
• Main Reasons for Questioned Document Examination
• Finding the Right Kind of Handwriting Expert
• How Can I Prove Forged Signatures Aren’t Mine
• What Training Does a Forensic Handwriting Expert Need?
• Choosing the Right Forensic Document Examiner Can Make or Break a Case
• Finding a Trusted Source for Forensic Document Analysis
• Can a Document Examiner Help Clear My Name?

Just about everyone has at one time or another expressed an opinion about something, only later to regret being quite so bold when circumstances change or the opinion is no longer valid. That’s okay in everyday life, and most of the time people will accept that kind of turnabout. But flip-flop doesn’t work well for an expert witness.

Testimony of expert witnesses can literally affect the course of action by a judge or jury. So when a handwriting expert like me identifies a writer, there should be virtually no doubt about that opinion.  Besides needing the proper training to be able to weigh the features of the handwriting, an expert should have sufficient evidence in both quality and quantity upon which to base a definitive opinion. Anything less warrants a limited conclusion.

How does a document examiner express limited conclusions, you ask?

For the answer to that, we turn to the guidelines provided to us by the American Society for Testing and Materials, International – known to most as ASTM. ASTM has established guidelines for all types of manufacturing and consumer goods and services and is recognized worldwide as a source for standardized practices.

The ASTM provides nine levels of certainty to help define what I mean by what I say. Let’s use an example, a case involving the identity of a writer. There are four levels of certainty for identifying a writer, four levels of certainty for elimination of the writer and an inconclusive level in the middle designated as “cannot identify or eliminate.” The first four levels of certainty for identification outline how to express a positive opinion. Similar criteria can be applied to the elimination of a writer.

The Levels of Certainty Explained

Identification – The expert has no reservations that the known writer wrote the questioned writing. In criminal courtroom terms, this might be considered similar to “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.”

Highly Probable – The expert is virtually certain that the known writer wrote the questioned writing; however, some critical feature(s) is missing for identification. This compares to “Clear and Convincing Evidence” and is a very strong opinion.

Probable – The expert has found some unexplainable differences within the comparable evidence, but it is likely that the known writer wrote the questioned writing. This is the approximate equivalent to “More Likely than Not” court standard.

Indications – The productivity of this examination is limited by the quality or quantity of comparable evidence. The writing has few features which are significant for comparison purposes, but those features are in agreement with the questioned writing. This level is significantly lower than “Preponderance of the Evidence” standard.

The Expert’s Interpretation

It is up to the experience and training of the Forensic Document Examiner to determine the significance of the matching features between writings and if any differences between the writings are fundamental to the questioned writer or merely unexplainable due to a lack of sufficient sample writings. Once all of the features, characteristics and nuances of the writing are identified, compared and weighed, an appropriate opinion can be rendered.

Just because the expert cannot reach an opinion of absolute identity or elimination, does not necessarily cast doubt on the abilities of the expert. On the contrary, it most likely indicates that there is a lack of adequate quality or quantity of evidence to support such an opinion. Quite often this is the direct result of having only copies to examine.

Coming up, I will discuss some of the many shortfalls of using copies as evidence.

For more information or help with your handwriting signature analysis or document examination you can contact me at ALLIANCE FORENSIC SERVICES in Escondido, CA. 888-760-0339

• Choosing the Right Forensic Document Examiner Can Make or Break a Case
• Finding a Trusted Source for Forensic Document Analysis

Without a doubt, the most misunderstood and sometimes daunting task of being a handwriting expert is explaining my opinion.

Is Any Opinion Definitive?

By its very definition, an opinion is subjective and not an absolute answer. It is only one person’s application of knowledge and experience combined with analytical skills to derive what is perceived as the correct answer.

If this is true, can there be varying levels of certainty when it comes to an expert opinion? The answer is a resounding, yes. As a handwriting expert/document examiner I have found that few cases are as simple as they initially appear, so arriving at the ultimate expert opinion can sometimes be challenging.

The Devil is in the Details

For instance, in a signature identification case, I search for similar details in the comparative signatures provided. If they are not present, I always ask for more sample writing. If I still am unable to find the missing details, I cannot be as convinced that the samples and the questioned signature were written by the same person, even though there are no fundamental differences between the writings. In a situation like this I must lower my level of certainty according to the weight of the missing features and the strength of the similarities.

Skill and Training is a Must

The only way to establish the relative importance of the characteristics examined by forensic document examiners is to accumulate and apply a personal databank of knowledge combined with the experience of viewing literally thousands of handwriting samples to the analysis of the questioned document. Once properly trained, the expert should have developed the skill to recognize the significance of the combination of characteristics present in the document.

But, as we all know, each of us has differing experience based particularly on our perceptions and critical thinking abilities. It is important that the document examiner you choose is accomplished in those areas and has training that conforms to the standards of the industry established by the American Society of Testing and Materials, International (ASTM). I will write more on this organization in a subsequent post.

So, just how do document examiners express their expert opinions if they have reservations about the correct answer? My next post will hopefully shed some light on the topic.

For more information or help with your handwriting signature analysis or document examination you can contact me at ALLIANCE FORENSIC SERVICES in Escondido, CA. 888-760-0339

• Questioned Document Examination in the Digital Age
• Main Reasons for Questioned Document Examination
• Finding the Right Kind of Handwriting Expert
• How Can I Prove Forged Signatures Aren’t Mine
• What Training Does a Forensic Handwriting Expert Need?
• Choosing the Right Forensic Document Examiner Can Make or Break a Case
• Finding a Trusted Source for Forensic Document Analysis
• Can a Document Examiner Help Clear My Name?