After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

• Describe the procedure for comparing questioned handwriting with specimen handwriting, including the means by which the latter are routinely obtained.
• Outline the different methods used to forge signatures and explain how a forensic document examiner can distinguish between genuine and forged signatures.
• Appreciate how the technological production and reproduction of documents in the office environment has changed dramatically over the years and, with it, the type of expertise required of the document examiner
• Understand the threat to mass-produced printed documents from counterfeiting and the measures that can be taken to combat this illegal activity.
• Discuss the different analytical techniques used in the comparison of inks.
• Explain how those characteristics of paper used in paper analysis are determined by the paper manufacturing process.
• Appreciate how the document examiner can glean useful information from the analysis of any tears, folds, holes, obliterations, erasures or indentations present on a questioned document.