As a lawyer or someone seeking to hire a forensic document examiner, you understand the importance of accurate and reliable analysis. When it comes to selecting the best handwriting expert, cost should not be the main factor. Instead, you should prioritize finding an expert with a proven track record of success and expertise in the field.
Here are a few key points to consider when searching for the best handwriting expert:
- Experience matters: Look for an expert with a strong background in forensic document examination and a history of successful cases. This will ensure that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to provide accurate analysis.
- Reputation is key: Ask for references and read reviews to get a sense of the expert’s reputation in the industry. A well-respected expert is likely to have a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success.
- Specialization is important: Not all handwriting experts are created equal. Some may specialize in specific areas, such as handwriting analysis for legal documents or analyzing forged signatures. Choose an expert who has a specific area of expertise that aligns with your needs.
- Don’t sacrifice quality for cost: While cost is certainly a factor to consider, it should not be the main driving force behind your decision. Cheap options may not necessarily be the best, and an inexperienced or poorly qualified expert could end up costing you more in the long run if their analysis is inaccurate or unreliable.
To give you an idea of what to expect in terms of cost, a handwriting expert may charge an hourly rate or a flat fee for their services. Rates can vary widely depending on the complexity of the case and the expert’s level of experience. In general, you can expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $800 per hour for a highly qualified forensic handwriting expert. Most cases start with a $6000 retainer.
In summary, when it comes to hiring a handwriting expert, it’s important to prioritize quality over cost. Look for an expert with a strong background in forensic document examination, a good reputation, and specialization in the specific area you need. While prices can vary widely, it’s worth investing in a qualified and experienced expert to ensure accurate and reliable analysis.
Baggett gave details on a recent case with 50 different handwriting samples in question. He said “We had a case recently where there were 50 suspects who might or might not have written have mailed some very disturbing letters with handwriting on the outside of two envelopes. They wanted to know which one of the employees’ handwriting was written on the envelopes. Now at first glance, I don’t know if that’s 12 hours of work or 40 hours of work. I just don’t know. The cllient paid a retainer of $12,000. It took about 20 hours to review the handwriting of those 50 suspects. And then, I told the client that I had excluded 45 of the suspects during the first pass. I narrowed it down the 50 to just 5 prime suspects. I then spend another 6 hours determining which one of the 5 suspects wrote the envelopes. By the time we wrote the details 75-page lab report, the retainer was all used up.”
Quote by Bart Baggett, CEO of Handwriting Experts Inc
Some clients prefer to just pay a flat rate rather than worry about being billed hourly. For example, a client could give pay a flat rate of $6000 for two documents. Sometimes, jobs like that are 10 hours of work, sometimes 20 hours. If it takes the expert 10 hours, the client got a really good deal going with the flat rate option as opposed to paying an hourly fee.
If you want to talk about your forensic handwriting case, just go to this website and speak to one of our case consultants. 1-800-980-9030.
Bart Baggett’s office can be reached at the following websites consultants. 1-800-980-9030.
Bart Baggett’s office can be reached at the following websites
https://handwritingexpertdallas.com/
https://californiahandwritingexperts.com/
https://floridahandwritingexperts.com/