Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How much does the examination cost and how long would it take?
The cost varies from case to case and depends on factors such as the complexity of the case, number of documents involved, variation among the signatures etc. The time taken also depends on factors such as those given above and our current caseload.
Please contact us with more details on the case, and we will provide an estimated range of fees and the expected turnaround time.
2. For signature verification, how many specimens do you require?
As a guide, about 10 genuine specimens would be required for comparison against the questioned signatures, and maybe more depending on the variation in the signatures, but we will try to work with the available specimens as far as possible.
The specimen signatures, or at least some of them, should be contemporaneous i.e. signed around the same period as the documents in question.
3. Are original documents necessary?
For the examination, we require the original documents containing the questioned and specimen signatures as far as possible, as the lack of originals may affect the conclusions. Certain features/ characteristics of the writing may not be observable or shown adequately in reproduced documents (e.g. photocopies, scanned or facsimile copies).
Click here to learn more about common terms and definitions in Forensic Document Examination.