When it comes to small estates, the importance of properly executed paperwork cannot be overstated. A small estate affidavit is a legal document used to transfer assets from an estate to its beneficiaries, allowing for a simplified probate process. However, disputes sometimes arise over the ownership of property or other assets listed in the affidavit. These challenges may involve a fake or forged signature, an altered date, or even the substitution of an entire page. When this happens, a forensic document examiner can play a critical role in uncovering the truth.
What Does a Document Examiner Do?
A document examiner uses scientific methods to evaluate the authenticity of documents. In cases involving a small estate affidavit, they may be asked to:
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Compare questioned signatures with known signature samples
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Analyze documents for signs of tampering or alteration
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Recover indented or obscured writing
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Determine if a signature is original or machine-copied
To do this, document examiners use laboratory instruments such as microscopes, alternate light sources, and electrostatic detection devices—tools that can detect even the most subtle inconsistencies. These techniques are non-destructive and allow for a detailed, accurate assessment of the documents in question.
Why Are Document Examiners Necessary?
When disputing a small estate affidavit, an impartial expert can provide crucial evidence to support your case. A document examiner offers objective insight that attorneys, courts, and beneficiaries can rely on when determining the validity of estate documents. Their findings can help guide settlements or legal decisions. If the matter escalates, the examiner may also be called to provide expert testimony in court to support their conclusions.
Final Check
To avoid disputes, all paperwork related to a small estate transaction must be correctly and clearly executed. While an attorney is best suited for ensuring legal compliance, properly executed documents can still be altered—sometimes by a family member seeking personal gain. In these situations, hiring a qualified forensic document examiner can make a significant difference. Their training allows them to uncover alterations, substitutions, and other discrepancies that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Disputing a Small Estate Affidavit? Use an Expert.
Forensic Document Examiner James A. Green has provided expert testimony in more than 150 cases in State and Federal Courts and in Canada. Mr. Green is Certified by the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners and is an active member of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences – Questioned Document Section, and the Southwest Association of Forensic Document Examiners.
To learn more or to consult Mr. Green regarding a small estate affidavit dispute, call 888-485-0832 or send an email.