Helpful resources for attorneys
Forensic document examiners should be certified by the ABFDE (American Board of Forensic Document Examiners) and cite membership in at least one of the following recognized national and/or regional forensic science organizations:
ASQDE
SWAFDE
SAFDE
MAFS
NEAFS
CSFS
AAFS (membership in the Questioned Document section)
ASQDE
SWAFDE
SAFDE
MAFS
NEAFS
CSFS
AAFS (membership in the Questioned Document section)
As it is the best practice to examine original documents, in cases where a Last Will & Testament is in question and has been filed with the court, for some courts, a court order is required to allow the examination.
Download this PDF containing sample text for orders required in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
Assuming that the primary objective is to examine the signature, handwriting, or initials on the Will, this may be done at the courthouse. However, if there are questions regarding whether pages have been switched, the original Will would have to be examined in our laboratory.
For assistance in gathering exemplars to compare to signatures, handwriting, or initials, download our Guidelines for Exemplars here.
Download this PDF containing sample text for orders required in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
Assuming that the primary objective is to examine the signature, handwriting, or initials on the Will, this may be done at the courthouse. However, if there are questions regarding whether pages have been switched, the original Will would have to be examined in our laboratory.
For assistance in gathering exemplars to compare to signatures, handwriting, or initials, download our Guidelines for Exemplars here.
Cases involving questioned signatures on real estate documents frequently require examination of signatures in notary logs, where a thumbprint is a requirement. We do not do fingerprint examination, but we do recommend the services of fingerprint expert Alan McRoberts.
Often a questioned document case may involve issues related to ink dating. While Rile and Hicks possesses the laboratory equipment necessary to answer questions involving differentiation of inks (using the Video Spectral Comparator), answering questions regarding the age of inks involves minimally destructive testing that can only be done by a forensic ink chemist. We recommend ink expert Dr. Valery Aginsky for assistance with ink dating issues. He may be contacted through his website, www.documentdating.com.
Rile & Hicks uses a well-recognized 9-level scale, ranging from Identification to Elimination, for expressing opinions on handwriting. A copy of this scale can be provided upon request.