Forensic Document ExaminationBy Kirby WileySeptember 9, 2008

What is forensic science? What is forensic document examination?

Forensic science is application of various sciences having to do with the law.

The application of allied sciences and analytical techniques to questions concerning documents.

Why is there a need for forensic document examiners?

If there is a case in which there is a questionable document there will be an examination of that document that consists of the analysis and comparisons of:

-Questioned handwriting -Hand printing -Type writing -Commercial printing -Photocopies -Papers -Inks, etc.

What forensic document examiners can do

Forensic document examiners can figure out the authenticity of the material being questioned, and any alterations made to the document.

They can help attorneys and law enforcement officers by giving their opinions on a variety of document problems; wills, deeds, medical records, income tax records, time sheets, contracts, loan agreements, elections, petitions, checks, and anonymous letters. This will help during the cross-examination questions.

To be an Forensic document examiner you should have:

In order to become a forensic document examiner, most people will have an undergraduate or masters degree. Some places require a baccalaureate degree as well.

Kay Micklitz

Kay Micklitz is a board certified and court qualified Forensic Document Examiner.

Kay owns and operates Alamo Area Forensic Examiners in San Antonio, Texas.

She completed training as a Questioned Document Examiner through the National Questioned Document Association in Dallas, Texas.

She graduated from the FBI Citizens Academy in San Antonio, Texas.

Kay completed Questioned Document Section of I.A.S. Forensic Science Program through the American Institute of Applied Science (AIAS). The AIAS is licensed by the North Carolina Community College System. Most of the law enforcement agencies throughout the world require the AIAS program for positions dealing with bureaus and crime labs.

She is board certified with the Document Examiner through the National Association of Document examiners, where she is also a diplomat. She is qualified in the country, state, and federal courts, and has been appointed to court as an expert in country, state, and federal courts.

Kay’s affiliates:

-Forgery Investigators Association of Texas.-Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.-International Association for Identification, Texas Division.-ASTM international committee, Forensic sciences/ Document Examination.

Kay has worked with:Disputed willsAnonymous Hate notesDeath ThreatsSexual HarassmentForged ChecksTypewriter IdentificationLease AgreementsDisguised SignaturesAltered Medical RecordsThermal Paper recoverySales ContractsCertificates of DepositInternal SabotageMedical AuthorizationsReal Estate DocumentsChild Custody DisputePoisson Pen LettersSecurity AgreementsProctor Sign in LogsCredit Card ReceiptsGift Tax Returns

Contract AgreementsWarranty DeedsUniversity EvaluationsSecurities FraudInternal TheftGraffitiPaternity SuitsPrescription FraudBank Signature CardsInsurance BeneficiariesDivorce PapersCredit Disability Apps.Motor Vehicle PurchaseAuto Accident ClaimsStock CertificatesSequential EntriesArrest WarrantsInk over ink entriesInsurance FraudEmbezzlementDocument Alteration

Traced signaturesAnonymousCartoonsBank Robbery notesHolographic WillsCorporate MinutesLoan Documents

Kay’s favorite project.Kay worked on an interesting case a few years a

go when fax machines had just been invented. Someone had photocopied a signature onto a check and then tried to fax it to the bank. The

check was sent to Kay, because it was suspicious. Kay figured out that the person had put up a sheet of paper white photocopying, so

you couldn’t tell on the document that it had be copied.

RESOURCES:

WWW.ABFDE.ORGWWW.MICKLITZ.COMWWW.SAFDE.ORGWWW.ASQDE.ORG

PHONE INTERVIEW WITH KAY MICKLITZ.