Forensic handwriting examination (FHE) involves the systematic analysis of handwriting samples to provide objective evidence and an expert opinion as to the authenticity and/or authorship of a document. By comparing a questioned document to an authentic handwriting samples it is possible to determine whether the samples originated from the same person and to identify possible forgeries or alterations. FHE is also referred to as questioned document examination (QDE).
Our procedure is highly objective and formalized. The comparison of the questioned handwriting or signature (X) with authentic handwriting samples (V) consists of two stages: the evaluation of the handwriting signs and the congruence analysis. We evaluate the degree of similarity (S) on a scale from 0 to 1, where 0 means an absolute difference and 1 complete similarity.
S reflects the quantitative assessment of the similarity X with V and consists of two weighted summands: the average similarity of basic handwriting signs (M) and average value of congruence (K). The last results from comparison of all present characters (letters and digits) and/or all graphic elements of signatures.