An opinion letter is a formal written document in which a forensic document examiner states their conclusion about a questioned document, explains the basis for that conclusion, and identifies the evidence on which the opinion rests.

It is the foundation of everything that follows.

Before you can take a forgery case to an attorney, you need something concrete to show them. A suspicion is not enough. A feeling is not enough. An opinion letter from a qualified, court-experienced examiner gives your attorney a documented, defensible conclusion that can be presented to a judge or introduced as evidence in court.

I have stopped fraud cases at the hearing level with a single opinion letter. In one estate matter involving dozens of forged documents and a $6 million inheritance, my letter was enough to halt the proceedings before trial. The court needed to hear from someone who had examined the evidence. The letter provided that.

A good opinion letter does several things. It identifies the questioned document and the known samples used for comparison, and describes the examination methodology. It states the findings clearly. And it concludes that the examiner is prepared to defend under cross-examination.

It is not a casual document. It takes time to write properly, and that time is part of what you are paying for. But it is the piece that makes everything else possible.

Curt L. Baggett
The Nation’s #1 Forensic Document Examiner
expertdocumentexaminer.com

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an opinion letter?

A formal written document in which a forensic document examiner states their conclusion about a questioned document, explains the basis for that conclusion, and identifies the evidence the opinion rests on.

Why do you need an opinion letter?

Before you can take a forgery case to an attorney, you need something concrete. A suspicion is not enough. An opinion letter gives your attorney a documented, defensible conclusion that can be presented to a judge or introduced as evidence.

What does a good opinion letter contain?

It identifies the questioned document and the known samples used for comparison, describes the examination methodology, states the findings clearly, and concludes that the examiner is prepared to defend it under cross-examination.

Can an opinion letter stop a case before trial?

Yes. In one estate matter involving dozens of forged documents and a $6 million inheritance, a single opinion letter was enough to halt the proceedings at the hearing level, before trial.