Signature examination tests a hypothesis about the writer and assesses signs of unusual conditions or imitation. The original document and sufficient comparable specimens matter, alongside visual similarity.
Subject of examination
- The disputed signature and details of its location
- Free, conditionally free and experimental specimens
- Conditions of execution and the quality of stroke reproduction
Sample questions for the expert
- Is the submitted signature suitable for an identification examination?
- Who made the signature, where sufficient specimens are available?
- Are there signs of unusual conditions or imitation?
- What limitations arise from the copy, brevity or condition of the object?
The final questions are formulated according to the objects and circumstances of the particular task.
What to prepare
- The original document, if available
- Reliable signature specimens from a comparable period
- Information about the conditions of creation and possible changes in writing skill
- Questions, case materials and the previous report
How the examination is conducted
General and individual features of writing skill are compared. The quality of the object and the provenance of the specimens are checked before comparison. Differences are assessed with natural variation taken into account.
Scope and limitations
A copy may not reproduce features available in the original. The technical method of applying the signature image and the document's materials require a separate examination of document elements or materials.
What the deliverable records
The report describes suitability, compares features and provides an answer in a form supported by the materials, without guaranteeing a categorical conclusion.
