Years ago, the answer was simple: bring me the original. Early photocopies were so poor you could barely make out what you were looking at, let alone conduct a proper examination.

That has changed.

Today, banks routinely photograph documents rather than keep originals. Forgers, who are often caretakers or family members, frequently destroy the original handwriting samples to make an examination harder. In many cases, originals simply do not exist anymore.

The good news: a high-quality copy is sufficient for a thorough examination and a court-admissible opinion. I have worked from copies in hundreds of cases and testified on those findings at every level of the American court system.

The one thing a copy cannot give you is pen pressure. With an original document, I can measure how hard the pen pressed into the paper, which tells me additional information about the writer. That data is lost in a photograph or scan.

Everything else is preserved: line quality, tremor, pen lifts, patching, stroke direction, spacing, proportions. If the copy is clear and readable, I can work with it.

The chief word is sufficient. A blurry, degraded, fourth-generation photocopy is not sufficient. A clean, clear scan or photograph is. If you are unsure whether what you have is usable, send it. I will tell you honestly whether an examination is possible.

Curt Baggett
 The Nation’s #1 Forensic Document Examiner
Over 2,000 cases handled across all 50 states
972-644-0285
972-814-2695
https://expertdocumentexaminer.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need the original document for an examination?

No. A high-quality copy is sufficient for a thorough examination and a court-admissible opinion. Experts have worked from copies in hundreds of cases and testified on those findings.

What can a copy not show an examiner?

Pen pressure. With an original, an examiner can measure how hard the pen pressed into the paper. That data is lost in a photograph or scan; everything else is preserved.

What makes a copy usable for examination?

It must be clear and readable. A clean scan or photograph preserves line quality, tremor, pen lifts, patching, stroke direction, spacing, and proportions. A blurry, degraded photocopy is not sufficient.

Why are original documents often unavailable?

Banks routinely photograph documents rather than keep originals, and forgers — often caretakers or family members — frequently destroy original handwriting samples. In many cases, originals simply no longer exist.