How credible is forensic hand writing analysis in comparing signatures ? Is the opinion rendered accepted by Massachusetts courts? (Posted on the Forum by Confused.)
Response of Attorney John F. Libertine:
Handwriting may be authenticated by:
1. a non-expert witness who is familiar with the writing of the individual in question (a pre-existing familiarity, not one acquired for the purpose of the litigation)
2. comparison by an expert witness or trier of fact of a questioned writing with an authenticated sample.
There are other methods and nuances, but the point is, such writing comparison is admissible as evidence.
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