It’s a question we hear often: How quickly can a handwriting expert step in and help with a court case? Well, that’s a question that assumes that speed is important: if you’re in court today and you’re presented with a document, you’re like, “We need a handwriting expert, now!” It’s difficult to get a handwriting expert to start, finish, write a report, and conduct an exam all within 24 hours. In fact, you’re talking about two- or three-times rush fees. 

We also never agree to testify before we’ve done the work. A client might call and say, “Great. Let me pay you for court.” Wait a second. You don’t even know whether my opinion serves you, because you’re not hiring an expert witness to give the opinion you want. That’s what you may think you’re hiring for. That’s what some people are hiring for. However, all expert witnesses that I know of, at least in my circle, have integrity. They’ll say, “Hey, I’m going to do the investigation. If I determine that the outcome is X, which means, okay, I determine this is an authentic signature or not an authentic signature, then and only then will I take your money to go to court, because I cannot testify to something I don’t believe in.”

Why Rushing an Expert Is Risky

For most of our cases, we like to have six or eight weeks of lead time so we have time to collect all the evidence. We don’t want to take a case with limited evidence and then be pushed into trial. While we can do cases quickly, it is not our preference because we don’t want to be rushed. We don’t want to be biased, and we want to take the time to do everything right because our job as forensic handwriting expert witnesses is to tell the truth, let the evidence speak for itself, and then tell the judge, “Here’s what we found on the evidence.”

If you’ve got a court case and you really feel like it’s super urgent, then you must get on the phone with an attorney and a forensic expert, be ready to pay for rush fees, and say, “Look, we’ve got this case coming up. How quickly can you turn it around? How quickly can I get you the evidence? Can you move other cases around? Are you in court?” 

In my experience, the urgency clients feel when they call isn’t always matched by the actual timeline. When they call, they’re like, “It’s going to take three weeks. You can’t take three weeks.” A busy forensic office may have a dozen or more active cases at any given time. We’ve got offices in Miami, Dallas, Nashville, and all around the country. So, we probably have an expert near you. And if that expert isn’t in court during the next three days, they may be able to take those days to handle your case and do it quickly. If you have a deadline on Friday and it’s Monday, we could probably get to your case, but we can’t guarantee you an outcome.

What To Do If You’re Already in Court

Yes, we can help you with your court case. But if you are already in a case and the other side presents evidence, you’ve got some logistical problems, depending on how good your attorney is, in designating a witness, because in some states you can’t designate a witness the same day.

You could designate a rebuttal witness, and that may be really important because if they say, “Hey, we have this contract that no one’s ever seen before,” you might respond, “That’s not true.” That’s a rebuttal witness, and that’s something you can do.

However, if that piece of paper has been in your file for a year and a half and no one’s ever questioned it, and now you want to get an expert, they might be able to object to that and say, “You’ve had two years to hire an expert. You’ve had two years to designate an expert. We need to know who this guy is. We need to depose him. We need to see his evidence. We need to see his report.”

It may be difficult to get someone hired by the next business day. That is the problem with waiting too late.

The Bottom Line: Don’t Wait

If you have a case you think you’re going to court over and you may need a forensic document examiner or another expert witness, do it now. Hire them now. Let them do their work. Get their opinion. Then, if their opinion helps you, you can designate them.

And that gives the other side time to object and time to do depositions. And when their court date rolls around, that person has already been vetted. They’ve already been approved, and they’ll be able to talk to that jury and present their findings clearly and credibly.

My name is Bart Baggett. We have a company called Handwriting Experts Incorporated. If you have a handwriting problem or a million-dollar forgery problem, give us a call. One of our experts can’t help.

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
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FAQ
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Q1: How quickly can a forensic handwriting expert witness complete a case examination?

A1: While rush turnarounds are possible, most forensic handwriting experts prefer six to
eight weeks of lead time to properly collect evidence, conduct a thorough examination,
and prepare a complete written report. Rush cases may incur fees two to three times
the standard rate.

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Q2: Will a forensic handwriting expert witness agree to testify before completing their
examination?

A2: No. Reputable forensic expert witnesses will not agree to testify — or accept payment
for court appearances — until after completing their investigation and forming an
independent opinion. They will only proceed to court if their findings genuinely
support your case.

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Q3: What are my options if I need a forensic handwriting expert witness while already
in trial?

A3: You may be able to designate a rebuttal witness if the opposing side introduces new,
unexpected evidence. However, some states do not allow same-day witness designation,
and courts may object if the document in question has been in your file for an
extended period without prior challenge.

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Q4: When is the best time to hire a forensic handwriting expert witness for a court case?

A4: Hire one as soon as you believe your case may go to court. Early engagement allows
time for a thorough examination, proper legal designation, opposing depositions, and
court approval — all of which strengthen your expert’s credibility before the judge
and jury.