Why Courts Assume Any Witness Could Be Wrong
Every witness is fallible. That’s not a criticism—it’s the foundation of the trial system.
Six people can watch the same car accident on Biscayne Boulevard and give six different versions of what happened. That doesn’t make them dishonest. It makes them human.
Handwriting experts are no different. Which is exactly why attorneys question credentials, training, and experience so aggressively.
The court isn’t asking, “Is this person perfect?” It’s asking, “Is this person reliably qualified to offer an opinion?”
Where Handwriting Experts Actually Get It Wrong
In my experience, errors usually don’t come from the science. They come from the expert.
- Inadequate training
- Limited casework experience
- No real courtroom testimony history
- Overconfidence without sufficient evidence
Miami courts see a wide range of experts—some excellent, some… not so much. Judges here are used to sorting that out quickly.
What Changes When the Expert Is Truly Qualified
Here’s the part that often gets overlooked.
When you hire a court-qualified forensic document examiner—someone who has testified dozens or hundreds of times—the odds shift dramatically.
That expert doesn’t guess. They collect evidence.
Original documents. High-resolution scans. Microscopic analysis. Ink flow. Line quality. Natural variation.
When the evidence is sufficient, the conclusion becomes clear.
Not emotional. Not speculative. Clear.
A Real-World Miami Scenario
In South Florida, many disputes involve wills, trusts, and real estate documents. These cases often land at the Miami-Dade County Courthouse downtown.
Here’s something most people don’t realize:
Even if a signature on a will is genuine, the document itself may still be altered.
Pages can be swapped. Staples removed. Paper mismatched. A signature being authentic doesn’t automatically mean the document is.
That’s why handwriting analysis is often just one part of a larger forensic document examination.
So… Will Qualified Experts Agree?
When the evidence is there? Yes.
One of the quiet truths in this field is that qualified experts usually agree with each other.
If another experienced examiner reviews my report, they don’t ask, “What do I think of Bart?” They ask, “Does the evidence support the conclusion?”
And when it does, the opinion holds.
The Question We’re Actually Answering
Despite all the legal complexity, our core question is simple:
Did this person write this name—or did someone else write it for them?
That’s it.
No drama. No storytelling. Just evidence-based conclusions.
What Miami Attorneys Should Look For
If you’re litigating in Miami or anywhere in Florida, the checklist matters:
- Has the expert passed voir dire—repeatedly?
- Do judges recognize their qualifications?
- Can they explain their opinion clearly under cross-examination?
- Do they rely on evidence, not assumptions?
That’s how courts decide credibility.
Final Answer
Yes—a handwriting expert can be wrong. Any expert witness can be wrong. Most experts express a “professional opinion” with industry language the expresses the level of certainty. So, it’s not a matter of right and wrong, it is a matter of the evidence points in this direction… and this is my level of certainty this series of events is the truth.
But experienced, court-qualified forensic document examiners rarely are when the evidence is available and properly examined.
In Miami, where courts move fast and scrutiny is high, that distinction matters more than most people realize.
If you’re facing a questioned signature, disputed will, or suspected forgery in Miami, Florida, the expert you choose can shape the entire case.
Choose carefully.
Bart Baggett
Forensic Document Examiner & Expert Witness
CEO, Handwriting Experts Inc.
Learn more at FloridaHandwritingExperts.com 305-459-1544
