Gone is the day when a cup of coffee and a handshake were all it took for a document examiner to give an opinion on a disputed signature.

Why?

The document examiner becomes one with the client on the case each time a conclusion is reached on some suspicious writing. If the case goes to court, he or she is responsible for defending the results of the investigation and informing the judge what fees the client paid. It is up to the judge to decide whether the investigation was legitimate, or simply a favor, and whether the results and fees can be substantiated by your background and the work involved. This background is the key consideration for the client. A seasoned and seasoned professional will have a history of schooling, fees, licenses, and continuing education for a period of time before hanging a tile, all of which came at a high price!

Then there is the regular maintenance of the examiner’s office for documents, materials, Internet expenses, advertising, and taxes. And, to stay in business, an examiner will regularly conduct additional investigations that may or may not be expensive. An ethical professional will be more than willing to discuss fees and tell you exactly what you will receive for services rendered. Generally, any case will require a minimum of four hours to put together the report, if the matter is not complex. However, some cases require extensive laboratory work that may involve the use of ultraviolet light, making transparencies, developing images, and / or taking infrared photographs.

And your handwriting expert may have to discuss your case with your attorney or call another handwriting expert for a conference on some aspect of your case. In addition, time can be spent on phone calls and special investigations to find more useful information about your case in public records.

So if you can get an experienced, experienced, and recognized document examiner to start your case for $ 395 and up, you’ve found gold! And that may be all you have to pay depending on the nature and extent of your case. Remember, look for quality in your expert’s Curriculum Vitae (resume) and don’t be foolish in choosing the most qualified professional to assist you.