Can a Handwriting Expert Prove a Signature Was Forged on a Contract?
Our office gets calls about contract fraud all the time. Can a signature expert prove a signature was forged on a contract? Absolutely. That’s exactly what a forensic document examiner does. Here’s a closer look at how the process really works.
What a Forensic Document Examiner Actually Does
You might call the person who checks a signature’s authenticity a handwriting expert. More precisely, it’s a “forensic handwriting expert” — but the technical term is forensic document examiner. The specialty is handwritten items.
When a disputed signature comes in, we compare it against around 40 other samples of that person’s signature from the last five or six years — ideally from the same general time period as the document in question.
What We Look For
If the case were mine, I’d run a side-by-side analysis. I’d pull out a microscope and zoom in. I’d study the little ink striations inside the ink blobs. I’m asking one core question: does this appear to be the same hand — the same physiology and neurology — that signed all the others?
There are many telltale signs of forgery. I won’t list them here, because I’d rather forgers not know exactly what we’re looking for. In broad terms, we’re reading the writing for signs of forgery or signs of genuineness. Spotting them takes real expertise. It’s a lot harder than glancing at a signature and saying “that looks a little off.” Every micro-movement of the pen has to be analyzed.
A Rare Skill — and How to Find It
Forensic document examiners typically charge $600 or $700 an hour. This is a rare skill. Only a few hundred people in the world can accurately determine a person’s identity from their handwriting. They’re certified or court-qualified forensic document examiners.
If you need one — say, for a Tarrant County contract dispute — I still take cases, especially high-stakes ones, and I refer plenty of others to my associates. Give us a call and we’ll help you figure out whether a handwriting expert is really what your case needs. And if it is, I suspect we have one in your budget.
Handwriting Experts Inc. — Dallas–Fort Worth
539 W. Commerce St #1396, Dallas, TX 75208-1953
Call or text: 214-614-8122
Have a questioned signature or document? Tell us what you have, and we’ll help you see what the evidence actually shows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a handwriting expert prove a signature was forged on a contract?
Absolutely — that is exactly what a forensic document examiner does. The disputed signature is compared against around 40 other samples of the person’s signature from the last five or six years, ideally from the same general time period as the document.
How does an examiner analyze a disputed signature?
Through side-by-side analysis under a microscope, studying the ink striations inside the ink blobs and every micro-movement of the pen. The core question: does this appear to be the same hand — the same physiology and neurology — that signed the others?
What is the difference between a handwriting expert and a forensic document examiner?
“Forensic document examiner” is the technical term for the professional who checks a signature’s authenticity; the specialty is handwritten items. “Handwriting expert” usually refers to the same professional.
How much does a forensic document examiner cost?
Examiners typically charge $600 or $700 an hour. It is a rare skill — only a few hundred people in the world can accurately determine a person’s identity from their handwriting as certified or court-qualified forensic document examiners.
