Are Handwriting Experts Used in Courts?

Of course they are. In fact, all kinds of experts are used in courts. It’s called an expert witness.

An expert witness is different than a lay witness, who does not have a background in law or giving testimony.

A lay witness is a “layperson” or random person who happened to be involved in legal matter purely through circumstance.

An example of a lay witness would be a passerby who saw a car accident. They could be called into court to give their recollection of the event and basically say, “Hey judge, I saw the accident, this is what happened”.

Handwriting analysis is used not just for civil cases, but also for criminal cases. It’s a science that has helped solve crimes and uphold justice in courts of law for over a century.

Specifically, forensic handwriting analysis, such as forensic document examination, has been used since 1910, including by the FBI. to identify handwriting on ransom notes, check signatures made by thieves, and other crimes.

You’ve probably seen “Catch Me If You Can”, that great movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio. I met the man that it’s based on, who Leonardo DiCaprio played. He was a con artist, and he forged documents and checks for years in the 60s and 70s, and then he got caught.

Now, he uses his expertise not to commit crimes, but to catch criminals- he works for the FBI (though he may be retired now).

There’s a whole science behind handwriting and forgeries and checks and how you can tell if handwriting was written by the person that says it’s written or if it was crafted eloquently or forged or traced or simulated—all these fancy words, which are part of the lexicon of a forensic document examiner.

For many years, forensic handwriting experts have been used to help identify criminals, identify frauds, and help people go to jail for bounced checks or forged checks, or even long, complicated fraud schemes where they’re buying and trading houses and stealing people’s estates.

In a criminal trial, there are two sides, a defense and a prosecution.

In a civil case, you have a plaintiff and a defendant.

Either side can hire expert witnesses. They can hire an attorney. They have a chance to bring the truth to the table.

In America, you can actually have two expert witnesses. You can have one, and the other side can hire their own expert in the same field who may have a different opinion.

In Europe, depending on the country and court system, both sides usually hire one expert together. They agree on the choice, they share the fee, and they follow that expert’s opinion.

I find a problem with that because some expert witnesses aren’t as good as others.

I’ve been teaching handwriting analysis and certifying people as experts for many, many years.

I’ve seen the quality of students. I mean, hey, I passed algebra. I passed statistics, but I couldn’t do it today. That was many, many years ago.

Just because someone graduated their handwriting analysis program and got their certificate doesn’t mean they’re still highly experienced and highly qualified.

True expertise as an expert witness paradoxically comes with a lot of experience on the witness stand.

That’s why it’s so important to do your research to be able to hire a truly qualified and experienced expert witness.

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If you need some help with your case or some help with solving that problem, reach out to a forensic document examiner. Make sure that they are court-qualified. If you need some help, a referral, or a discussion. Go to handwritingexpertusa.com or handwritingexperts.com. We have offices all over the country and other experts at all levels of affordability to help you solve your forensic document examination case.

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Bart Baggett
The Nation’s Leading Forensic Handwriting Expert
CEO of Handwriting Experts Inc.
Forensic Document Examiner • Expert Witness • Legal Consultant
“We solve million dollar forgery cases.”

Telephone: 1-800-980-9030

YouTube: @thehandwritingexpert
LinkedIn: bartbaggett
Facebook: bartbaggett
https://www.instagram.com/forensichandwritingexpert
https://www.tiktok.com/@handwritingexpertsinc

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FAQ
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Q1: Are handwriting experts used in court?
A1: Yes. Forensic document examiners are regularly called as expert witnesses in both civil and criminal trials, particularly in cases involving forgery, check fraud, and disputed wills.

Q2: What is the difference between an expert witness and a lay witness?
A2: A lay witness is someone who witnessed an event by circumstance, such as a bystander at an accident. An expert witness is an unbiased third party with specialized forensic expertise who provides professional analysis to the court.

Q3: What types of cases use handwriting experts?
A3: Handwriting experts are most commonly used in probate court involving wills and estates, check fraud cases, forgery investigations, and other civil or criminal matters involving questioned documents.

Q4: How long has forensic handwriting analysis been used in courts?
A4: Forensic handwriting analysis has been used in courts since 1910, including by the FBI, to examine ransom notes, forged signatures, and other questioned documents.