Professional services

Professional examination and comparison of questioned handwritten material.

Every examination is conducted in accordance with accepted forensic document examination principles and methodologies, including ASTM standards and other internationally recognised procedures for the comparison and evaluation of handwriting and signatures.

The examination process includes the use of magnification, specialised optical equipment, stereo microscopy, photographic enlargement and detailed comparative analysis. I also use a camera equipped with a specialised lens capable of producing clear, high-quality close-up images from a working distance of approximately 10-15 centimetres. The resulting photographs and enlargements may be incorporated into my reports to illustrate the relevant handwriting or signature characteristics.

Each report concludes with my professional opinion as to whether the questioned handwriting or signature is genuine, forged, simulated, disguised or attributable to a particular writer.

My reports are intended to be detailed, objective and sufficiently self-explanatory to enable attorneys, courts and clients to understand the evidence without relying solely upon the final conclusion.

Depending on the nature and complexity of the matter, a full report may extend to approximately 40-60 pages.

My objective is not merely to state an opinion. It is to enable attorneys, courts and clients to understand the observations, evidence and reasoning that led to every conclusion.

Where required, I am available to provide expert testimony before courts, arbitration proceedings, disciplinary hearings and other legal forums.

Because my reports are designed to explain the evidence and reasoning comprehensively, I am required to give oral evidence in court relatively infrequently, approximately once for every ten reports prepared, and possibly less often.

Forensic behavioural profiling may assist attorneys, investigators, businesses, institutions and private clients by providing insight into behavioural characteristics relevant to legal, employment and investigative matters.

Where appropriate, behavioural analysis may complement forensic document examination by providing additional insight into the behavioural patterns reflected in the available material. The forensic examination of authorship and authenticity remains distinct from behavioural interpretation. Where both services are provided, the nature and limitations of each are clearly explained.

For more than thirty-five years, I have also worked with private individuals seeking greater insight into themselves and the emotional patterns that influence their lives.

My work extends well beyond the handwriting or drawing itself. Rather than relying solely on what clients consciously choose or are initially able to tell me, I combine the findings arising from the handwriting and drawings with carefully guided discussion, thoughtful questioning and, where appropriate, writing exercises.

The handwriting does not replace the client's own account. It provides an additional source of information and often suggests areas that may benefit from deeper exploration. Through carefully chosen questions, clients are frequently able to speak about experiences, emotions, fears, conflicts and private matters that they may previously have found difficult to express or may not have fully understood themselves.

Many clients tell me that, perhaps for the first time, they gain a clearer understanding of themselves, their relationships and the patterns that have repeatedly affected their lives.

Every consultation is conducted respectfully, confidentially and at the client's own pace.