ALLIANCE FORENSIC SERVICES

GUIDE TO OBTAINING KNOWN HANDWRITING SAMPLES

1. Study the questioned materials beforehand.
2. Be prepared before the interview. Handwriting examinations begin with the investigator who collects the samples and results depend on how well the investigator does his or her job in obtaining known handwriting from individuals for comparison with disputed writings.
3. ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS ARE ALWAYS PREFERABLE TO COPIES. If you only have copies, provide the examiner with the earliest generation copies (the clearest copies) for analysis.

QUESTIONED & KNOWN SPECIMENS MUST BE COMPARABLE

"A's" cannot be compared with "G's," "John Jones" cannot be compared with "Samuel Hansen." The "J's" must be compared with "J's" and "ohn's" must be compared with "ohn's." Handwriting CANNOT be compared with hand printing and lower case hand printing cannot be compared with upper case hand printing, etc.

APPROXIMATE THE QUESTIONED WRITING CONDITIONS

If the disputed document is handwritten - get handwritten specimens.
If in upper case hand printing - get upper case hand printing.
If in pencil - get known writings in pencil with the point of the pencil in approximate condition of the point of the pencil when the questioned writings were produced.
If questioned writings were made with ballpoint pen – get known writings with ballpoint pen.
If the questioned writings are on checks – get known writings on sample check forms.
If the questioned writing is on ruled paper – get writings on ruled paper.
Duplicate the wording, the writing instrument and the space of the questioned document.

REMOVE EACH SPECIMEN FROM THE WRITER'S VIEW AFTER EACH SPECIMEN IS WRITTEN.

HANDWRITING SPECIMENS MUST BE ADEQUATE

In obtaining known writings, get a sufficient quantity for the document examiner to study the normal variations in the person’s writings. Get several specimens for each questioned document. As a general rule, 15 to 20 specimens should be obtained.

DO NOT LET THE WRITER COPY THE QUESTIONED WRITING OR ALLOW THE WRITER TO LOOK AT THE QUESTIONED DOCUMENT PRIOR TO OBTAINING THE KNOWN WRITING. If the writer wants to view the questioned document, you may display it but only after obtaining known specimens. Dictate the wording to the writer. NEVER demonstrate how the writer should write, but you may describe the type of writing you want (for instance, “printing” or “cursive”).

Obtain some specimens with the weak or unaccustomed hand (for most people, the left hand). Number the specimen in the order it was obtained and date, initial each specimen and ensure that the writer signs his/her name on each specimen.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE WRITER OF THE KNOWNS

If the investigator or the person obtaining the handwriting samples gives the writer special instructions like, “write slower, change the slant or spelling,” the investigator must inform the document examiner of such instructions or may write them on the specimen after it is provided to the investigator.

OBTAINING NON-DICTATED WRITINGS ("DUE COURSE")

Get business papers, letters, checks, applications, etc. containing the same words, letters, and letter combinations as contained in the questioned writings. Due course writings of the SAME CLASS of document as the questioned document may be the best due course exemplars. For example, if the questioned document is a will or contract, due course writings should include a will or contract if possible. They should also be of the same approximate time period as the documents in question. As always, an original due course document is preferable to a copy.