Document & Handwriting Analysis Flashcards

Which ink dating technique measures the ratio of solvent loss over time to estimate when a document was created?

Answer: Volatile component analysis

Volatile component analysis measures the evaporation rate of solvents in ink to estimate the age of a document.

A questioned signature shows pen lifts at unusual locations. What does this most likely indicate?

Answer: Possible tracing or simulation

Unnatural pen lifts in unusual positions are a common sign of tracing or careful simulation of a signature.

What is the term for the unconscious, automatic nature of genuine handwriting that makes it difficult to consciously alter all features simultaneously?

Answer: Motor automaticity

Motor automaticity refers to the subconscious execution of handwriting habits that forgers cannot fully suppress.

When examining a will for authenticity, which feature would be LEAST useful to a questioned document examiner?

Answer: The date printed on the document

A printed date alone is easy to fabricate and provides little forensic value compared to physical evidence in the ink and paper.

Which process can reveal indented writing on a document without damaging it?

Answer: Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA)

ESDA reveals indented impressions on paper by making them visible through electrostatic toner without altering the document.

A forensic examiner finds that blue ballpoint ink on a contract fluoresces under a specific wavelength of light. This observation is most useful for:

Answer: Detecting ink substitution or additions

Differential fluorescence under alternate light sources can reveal ink substitutions or additions made at different times.

In handwriting comparison, 'range of variation' refers to:

Answer: The natural differences seen across a writer's own samples

Range of variation describes how much a single writer's handwriting naturally differs from sample to sample.