Articles by Bart Baggett.
Articles by Bart Baggett.
Is Handwriting Analysis a Real Science or Just an Opinion? Handwriting analysis—and forensic document examination more broadly—is often dismissed as subjective guesswork. But is that fair? The answer lies in understanding what expert opinion actually means in a court of…
What’s the Job of a Certified Handwriting Expert? Interesting question. That word, “handwriting expert,” has two meanings, so you have to be specific. Are you looking for a job as a certified forensic document examiner? That’s a person (like me)…
Can Handwriting Be Used as Legal Evidence in Court? Absolutely! In fact, the entire industry called forensic document examination is about using handwriting, as well as handwritten items and documents, as legal evidence in a court of law, criminal courts,…
Why I Love Jury Trials I love jury trials. And if you are an attorney, you should, too. I just testified in front of a jury at the downtown courthouse. It was actually a blast. I love jury trials. I…
Is the Handwriting Expert the Same as a Document Examiner? It’s a question that comes up often, and the distinction matters if you’re trying to hire the right person for your case. The two are actually interrelated, but one is…
Is Handwriting Analysis Still Used by the FBI? Absolutely. The FBI employs handwriting experts at Quantico, who are exceptionally well-trained and well-equipped. But you don’t hear much about the details of handwriting analysis in famous criminal cases, even when it…
How Do I Become a Handwriting Expert? A lot of people want to know how to become a forensic expert. The truth is, there are very few ways to become one. When I was coming up, you had to do…
Can a Forensic Handwriting Expert Testify in a Criminal Trial? Yes. A qualified forensic handwriting expert can testify in criminal court as an expert witness, offering an opinion on whether a document or signature is authentic. Absolutely. In fact, I…
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…
How Much Does a Handwriting Expert Cost? This is the single most common question our staff receives in our office. People often assume a handwriting expert is like a mechanic. They think they can just call and ask the office,…