M OD U L E 4 .

ST A N D A R D O R
EX E M P L A R S
This module presents the types of handwriting “standards”,
procedure for taking requested handwriting standards and
disguises in handwriting.
 stANDARD
They are known writings, which indicate
how a person writes. A writer manifest
fixed habits in his writings that identify him.
This facts provides the basis for an opinion
of conclusion regarding any writing
identification problem.

definiton exemplars
Specimen of the writing of suspects are
of commonly known as exemplars. The term
standards is a general term referring to all
authenticated writings of the suspects

terms while exemplars refers more especially to

a specimens of standard writing offered in
evidence or obtained or request for
comparison with the questioned writing.

sample
A selected representative portion of the
whole is known as a sample. In this text,
the term sample follows closely the
statistical usage.
 lesson 4.1
n d w r i t i n g
s o f h a
type
n d a r d s ”
“s t a

COLLECTED STANDARDS are KNOWN (genuine) handwriting of an individual such as

signature and endorsements on canceled checks, legal papers letters, commercial,
1 official, public and private document and other handwriting such as letters,
memoranda, etc. Written in the course of daily life, both business and socials.

REQUEST STANDARDS are signature or other handwritings (or hand printings) written
2 by an individual upon request for the purpose of comparison with other handwriting or
for specimen purposes.

POST LITEM MOTAM EXEMPLARS writings produced by the subject after evidential
3 writings have come into dispute and solely for the purpose of establishing his
contentions.
 types of standards desirable for comparison
use in the two most common types of
questioned documents problems

1 Submit collected and request standards signature from both individual case.

When anonymous letter writings other than signature are in questioned:

a. Submit request standards writings of general nature from both victim and suspect’s
2 (as much standard writing as possible to obtain within reason.
b. Submit request standards of the questioned text written (or printed) - at least 3
writings by the suspect/s and in some instanced by the victim.
 lesson 4.2
re qu ested
fo r ta kin g
ures
proced g s ta nd ar d
wr it in
hand

Have subject seated in a natural position at table or desk having smooth writing
1 surface.
Furnish subject with paper and writing instrument similar to those used in questioned
2 writings, lie; paper should be same size, and ruled or unruled; as questioned
document: if questioned document is in written furnish subject with pen and ink, etc.
3 Never permit the subject to see any writing on the questioned document.
Dictate material to be written (or printed, if questioned material is hand printed): give
4 no assistance in spelling or arrangement on page. Dictate at a rate of speed, which
will produce the subject natural writing habits.
Remove each specimen upon completion by subject number in consequence, date,
5 time and identify by initiating each, and request subjects to sign each specimen.
Observe all writing done by subjects and indicate any attempt of disguise, and
6
whether subjects appears to be normally right or left handed, etc.
 special procedure for taking request
handwriting standards where checks forgery
is changed or suspected

1 Furnish subjects with check blanks similar to the questioned check/s.

Dictate the entries to be made on specimen checks as follows:

2 a. Date - same as shown on questioned check
b. Payee
c. Amount
d. Signature
e. Any other handwriting shown on questioned check

3 Give subjects to help or suggestions in completing specimen checks.

 miscellaneous

The laboratory should be informed of the age, apparent health, and physical condition
1 of the time standards are written.

2 Do not fold, staple or pin document: handle questioned documents with care.

Indicate in the sample handwriting the time, place, date, signature of writer as well as
3 witness of the handwriting.
 how to
prepare

a n d
collect handwriting
standards?
 factors to consider in the
selection of standards

1 The amount of standard written

2 Similarly of subject matter

3 Relative dates

4 Condition under which both the questioned and the standard are prepared.

5 Writing instrument and paper.

 handwritings/signatures
that are difficult to solve

type of Remedy
signature (required
standard)
1. Signature of the carless or highly
Collected standards.
erratic writer.
Other receipt signatures.
2. Receipt signature.
Requested standards if writer is still living.
3. Near - Illiterate Writer.
a. Collect standards written in the same
4. Signatures of Physically Impaired situation.
Writer. b. Collect 2 or 3 times more standards.
a. The intoxicated signature c. Similar to old age deterioration.
b. Old age deterioration Specimen written in normal condition
c. The sick bed signature could not be used therefore consider
5. Disguised signature or writing. collected and requested standard.
 lesson 4.3
ndwriting
uises in ha
disg

a. common
disguises
1 Abnormally large writing.
5 Printed forms instead of cursive forms.

2 Abnormally small writing.

6 Diminution in the usual speed of writing.

3 Alteration in slant.
Unusual widening or restriction of lateral
7 spacing.
Usually variation in slant within a single unit of
4 writing.
 b. kinds of
disguises

1 Change of slant - from right to left or vice

versa.
5 Deteriorating one's handwriting.
Change of letter, either from cursive to
2 block style or vice-versa.

Change from cursive (conventional style) 6 Using the wrong hand (AMBIDEXTROUS).
3 to block form or vice-versa.

Change of style from small to big or vice

4 versa.
 Effects of alcohol
in handwriting

a. physical and mental effects

Intoxication affects the physiological being of an individual
hance, the manner of handwriting is also affected.

b. evidence of alcoholic intoxication in handwriting

IBizarre letter forms, greatly enlarged writing, illegible forms
and writing generally, uneven baseline meaningless blobs or
extraneous strokes in the writing, inconsistency in slant of
writing, inconsistency in the form of repeated letters.
 lesson 4.4
sib ilit y o f
adm is
d w ritin gs
stand ar

1 Standard writings witnessed.

5 Ancient writings.

Other Writings Standards - Among

2 Standards writings admitted. writings admissible as standard are
signature on spelling motion or other
6 instruments, such as an appearance
bond, which may without further proof of
Record Maintained in Regular Course of
3 genuineness be used as a standard.
Business as Standard Writings.

7 Familiarity sometimes establishes

Government Document as standard standard writings.
4 Writings.
Opinion Evidence:
The court seem to be in general agreement that proof of the
genuineness of a standard cannot be established by the opinion of
experts testifying from a comparison of the writing sought to be
used as standard with another writing.

Genuineness of standard decided by court:

The sufficiency of the proof of the genuineness of a standard
of writing is a matter to be decided by the court.
 M OD U L E 5 .
INVES TIGA TIO N A ND
DETAILED EX AM INA TIO N OF
SIGNATURES
This module presents the fundamentals of signature examination, types of
signatures, classes of forged signatures and suggested steps in the
examination of signature. Further, this module comprehensively discusses
the examination of signatures its indication of forgery and genuiness.
 LESSON 5.1
FUNDAMENTALS OF SIGNATURE EXAMINATION

definition of signature
it is the name of a person written by him/her in a
document as a sign of acknowledgement. Or, it is a name
or a mark that a person puts at the end of a document
to attest that he is its author or that he ratifies its
contents.
 cross mark
significant
Historically, many who could not write signed with
a cross mark or crude X. This authenticating mark
is still used today by illiterates, and if properly
witnessed, it can legally stand for a signature.

terms Ballot marks are also referred to as cross marks

because of the common practice of marking with
an X.

fraudulent signature evidential signature

A forged signature. It
A signature signed at a particular time and place,
involves the writing of a
under particular conditions, while the signer was
name as a signature by
at particular age, in a particular physical and
someone other than the
mental condition, using particular implements,
person himself, without
and with a particular reason and purpose for
his permission, often with
recording his name.
some degree of imitation.
 e. guided signature
A signature that is executed while the writer’s hand or
significant arm is steadied in any way. Under the law of most
jurisdictions such as signature authenticates a legal
document provided it is shown that the writer
requested the assistance. It is most common written

terms during a serious illness or on a deathbed.

f. imitated signature
Synonymous with freehand signature.
d. freehand signature
g. model signature
A fraudulent signature that
A genuine signature that has been used to prepare an
was executed purely by
imitated or traced forgery.
simulation rather than by
tracing the outline of a h. theory of comparison
genuine signature. The act of setting two or more signature in an inverted
position to weigh their identifying significance, the
reason being that those we fail to see under normal
comparison may readily be seen under this theory.
 the examination of signatures is considered
a specialized branch of handwriting
identification, for the following reasons:

1 A signature is a word most practiced by many people and therefore most fluently
written

2 A signature is a means to identify a person and have a great personal significance.

3 A signature is written with little attention to spelling and some other details.

4 A signature is a word written without conscious thought about the mechanics of its
production and is written automatically.

5 A signature is the only word the illiterate can write with confidence.
 a. formal (conventional or
copybook form)
Complete, correct signature for an
important document such as will.
lesson 5.2
b. informal (cursory)
types of Usually for routine documents and personal
correspondence

signatures
c. careless scribble
For the mail carrier, delivery boy or the
autograph collector.
 lesson 5.3

classes of
forged signature
A. SIMULATED OR FREEHAND IMITATION FORGERY-
B. TRACED FORGERY (TRACED SIGNATURE)
executed purely by simulation rather than by tracing the
1. DIRECT TRACING - tracing is made by transmitted
outline of a genuine signature can be referred as
light.
freehand imitation or simulated forgery. Or it refers to
2. INDIRECT TRACING - forger uses a carbon paper and
the free-hand drawing in imitation of model signature.
place document on which he will trace the forged
1. SIMULATED WITH THE MODEL BEFORE THE FORGER
signature under the document bearing the model
a. DIRECT TECHNIQUE - forger works directly with ink.
signature with a carbon paper between the two.
b. INDIRECT-forger works first with pencil and
afterwards covers the pencil strokes with ink.
The types of Traced Signatures are:
2. SIMULATED FREE HAND FORGERY (TECHNIQUE) -
1. CARBON PROCESS
used by forgers who have a certain skill in writing? After
2. INDENTATION PROCESS
some practice, the forger tries to write a copy of the
3. TRANSMITTED LIGHT PROCESS
model quickly
C. SPURIOUS SIGNATURE

(SIMPLE FORGERY) - Forger does

not try to copy a model but

writes something resembling D. FORGERY BY MEANS

what we ordinarily call a OF A STAMPED E. FORGERY BY

signature. For this, he uses a FACSIMILE OF A COMPUTER SCANNING

false (spurious) name and makes GENUINE OR MODEL

a rapid stroke, disturbing his
usual writing by adopting a

camouflage called disguise.

 lesson 5.4

suggested steps in the

examination of signature

Place the questioned and the standard Design and structure of the letters - Determine
signatures in the juxta-position or slide-by-side as to roundness, smoothness, angularity and
1 for simultaneous viewing of the various elements 5 direction. Each individual has a different
and characteristics. concept of letter design.
The first element to be considered is the
handwriting movement or the manner of
execution (slow, deliberate, rapid, etc). The Look for the presence of retouching or
2 fundamental difference existing between a 6 patching.
genuine signature and an almost perfect forgery
is in the manner of execution.
Connecting strokes, slant, ratio, size, lateral
Second elements to examine is the quality of 7 spacing.
the line, the presence or tremors, smooth, fluent
3 or hesitation. Defect in line quality is only
appreciated when simultaneous viewing is Do not rely so much in the similarity or
made. difference of the capital letters, for theses are
Examine the beginning and ending lines, they are 8 the often changed according to the whim of the
very significant, determine whether the writer.
4 appearance blunt, club-shaped, tapered
or/vanishing.
 INDICATION OF GENUINENESS:
CHARACTERISTICS PRINCIPLES THAT SUPPLY
1. Carelessness
MOST CASES:
2. Spontaneity
1. Pen pressure
3. Alternation of thick and thin strokes
2. Movement
4. Speed
3. Proportion
5. Simplification
4. Unusual distortion of the forms of 6. Upright letters are interspersed with
letters slanting letters
5. Inconspicuous characteristics 7. The upward strokes to a threadlike tracing
6. Repeated characteristics 8. Rhythm
7. Characteristics written with speed 9. Good line quality

10. Variation
INDICATIONS OF SIMULATED (Direct & Indirect Techniques) and TRACED FORGERIES
1. Tremulous and broken connecting strokes between letters, indicating points at which the
writer has temporarily struck.
2. No rhythm
3. Carefulness or unusual care and deliberation
4. No contrast between upward and downward strokes
5. Slow writing- angular writing
6. Blunt beginning and endings
7. Placement of diacritical marks just over the stem of letters
8. Absence of spontaneity - lack of smoothness of letters
9. Restrained writing - there is lack of freedom or "inhibited" movements THAT gives the
impression that every stroke is made with great difficulty. This writing is small.
10. No variation
INDICATIONS OF SIMPLE OR SPURIOUS FORGERY
1. Writing habits of the writer (forger) is evident in the forged signature.
INDICATIONS OF FORGERY BY MEANS OF STAMPED FACSIMILE OF A GENUINE SIGNATURE
1. Flat strokes
2. No contrast between upstrokes and downstrokes
3. Deposit of ink at the junction of two strokes or where two strokes cross each other.
4. No variation - All signature will superimpose over each other.
PROCEDURE IN THE COMMON SIGNATURE PROBLEMS
A. Genuine Signature which the writer refuses to admit not genuine. Generally presence of
tremors, remnants of carbon, retouching (patching) indicates forgery. Produced, the probability
of genuineness
B. Genuine Signature Deliberately Modified. Examination of this kind of signature is
confidently discover that the modification is only on the prominent features of the letter
designs that are pointed out by the disclaimer, while the rest appear to be normal. There are
unnatural tremors and retouching. The minute details in genuine signatures are present.
 thank
for y o u
listening