The reliability of an opinion depends as much on the standards — writing of known origin — as on the questioned document itself. The following checklist will help you assemble the right material.
The questioned document
- Provide the original wherever possible: pen pressure, line quality, erasures and indentations are often visible only on the original.
- If the original is on the court record, its examination may be sought with the Court’s permission.
- If only a copy is available, provide the clearest copy obtainable; the opinion may then be qualified.
- Do not fold, staple, pin, mark, laminate or write on the document.
Admitted (collected) standards
Writing and signatures made in the ordinary course of business, whose genuineness is not in dispute — for example:
- cheques, account-opening forms and other bank records;
- letters, applications, registers and official records;
- earlier deeds and agreements signed by the person.
The best standards are:
- made in the usual course of business;
- spread over a period of time;
- ante litem motam — made before the dispute arose — and as close as possible in date to the disputed writing;
- of the same class — signatures for signatures, writing for writing, in the same script and style.
Specimen (requested) writings
Where admitted standards are insufficient, specimen writings may be obtained:
- in the presence of a witness, or under the direction of the Court;
- by dictation — the writer should not copy the disputed text;
- with several repetitions, on separate sheets;
- with a similar pen and paper to those of the disputed document;
- including the same words, letters and figures as appear in the disputed writing.
How many specimens?
An opinion can sometimes be given on two or three specimens, but more is always better. Within reason, there cannot be too many genuine standards.
Specimen thumb and finger impressions
- Fully rolled impressions with printer’s ink (as used in the Sub-Registrar’s office) on plain white paper.
- At least three to four impressions, together with plain impressions.
- Where it is not certain which digit made the disputed impression, impressions of all ten fingers, each marked as right or left hand.
Typewriting and anonymous letters
- Specimen typing from the suspected machine, repeating the full text of the questioned document several times — a single run through the alphabet is not enough.
- Any other documents known to have been typed on the machine.