We have created 7 pre-recorded messages to answer the following common questions which our office staff recieves on a regular basis. Naturally, you can call our office and ask these questions directly.
We hope this F.A.Q. assist you in making a hiring decision.
You will be prompted to enter an extension for the answer to the following questions:
x 1. What kind of forgery/ document cases do you handle? Press 1.
x 2. How do I get my case started? Press 2.
x 3. Do I have to have originals? Can you examine photocopies? Press 3.
x 4. How much will my case cost? Press 4.
x 5. How long will it take to get my official opinion? Press 5.
x 6. How do I get my documents to your laboratory for inspection? Press 6.
x 7. Why should I hire Bart Baggett, instead of another less qualified examiner? Press 7.
Mayor of Los Angeles Says:
"When you need a professional handwriting expert
of the highest standards, hire Bart Baggett.
He is honest, quick, direct... and will deliver an
objective expert opinion, every time. I recommend
him without hesitation."
~ Richard J. Riordan,
39th Mayor of Los Angeles
Bart Baggett is the President of The International School of Forensic Document Examination and author of 5 books related to handwriting.
Can Bart testify in my state or my country?
Yes, Bart travels nationwide to testify and has been qualifed to testify 100% of the time he has appeared in court as an expert witness.
How much do handwriting experts charge to render an opinion?
Most experts are retired government employees and charge about $1200 as a non-refundable retainer before they even begin the case with additional fees of $300-$400 per hour. Bart charges a "flat rate" which locks a single document examination to under $995. This billing sytem helps both attorneys and individuals budget their expert witness expenses accruately.
Why should I hire Bart Baggett, instead of another less qualified examiner?
Bart is the most recognized (famous) handwriting expert working in the USA. If credibility, accuracy, and integrity are important to your case, hire Bart. The only reason not to hire Bart is if your court date is on a date when Bart is already testifying in another case. He can't be two places at once. If he is good enough to be called upon by CNN repeatedly and has repeat attorney clients... he is good enough for your case.
What training does a handwriting expert have to have in order to testify in a court of law?
That is a very long answer. The short answer is that an expert's qualifications are judged by the judge in each case. The long answer is that many working handwritinge experts are not qualified and shouldn't be taking cases, but do. Don't get duped by hiring a underqualified expert. If someone is quoting you a price of rendering an expert opinion for under $200... this person is most likely underqualified and under trained.
Can I just email my document to you for a quick verbal opinion?
Our email address is on the banner above handwriting experts at yahoo.com. However, we do not render opinions of any documents without payment in advance. We will, however review documents to evaluate if the documents have the quality needed to be analyzed in our lab. Because our "opinion" is what you are paying for, it would be illogical to ask for us to give you our "product" without payment. You wouldn't ask a dentist to give you a brand new crown... and then decide if you want to pay him or not after the tire is on your car.
My case contains no originals, can you still render an opinion which will hold up in court? Yes. It is common for cases to go to trial based on photocopies or best available documents. While not preferred, in many cases experts must render an opinion using evidence that is available.
Will Bart's opinion be accepted in a court of law?
Of course, but an expert witness's testimony is never a guarantee the judge will rule in your favor. Documents are usually one piece of a much larger puzzle in any lawsuit.
How much will it cost to have Bart Baggett himself come to court and testify in person?
Does he travel outside California. (Yes. Often. Mr. Baggett's rate sheet is downloadable on this site. Also, the client pays for travel expenes and a small travel fee. Having Mr. Baggett come to you is well worth the travel expenses compared to a less qualified and non-famous local expert. )
All these questions and more can be answered by simply calling our office. Your first conversation will take place without a fee, so you can make sure you are hiring the right expert for the job. We welcome your call.
"Bart,
Your testimony and support during this lawsuit by my x-girlfriend has been nothing short of amazing. The judge awarded me full amount of the $6,600 and finally I can sleep at night."
~ Mike Juaraz,
East Los Angeles
"Thanks you soooooo much for going above and beyond. Your testimony was the key the criminal lawsuit against me. The jury found me NOT GUILTY on all counts. They obviously believed you instead of that Police document examiner the D.A. hired.
I was so impressed you handled that District Attorney with such professionalism... he knew you were right, but couldn't make you look bad on the witness stand.
I have my life back. Thank you Mr. Baggett!"
~ Amir Dawood, Attorney
San Bernadino, CA
"When you need a professional handwriting expert of the highest standards, hire Bart Baggett. He is honest, quick, direct... and will deliver an objective expert opinion, every time. I recommend him without hesitation."
~ Richard J. Riordan
39th Mayor of Los Angeles
"Bart Baggett is the best expert witness I've ever worked with. What's more, he successfully testified for my client via telephone in a live trial here in Alaska. He even "consulted with me" on how best to cross-examine the defense's document examiner. We won the trial and I recommend him whole heartedly."
~ Jim Fry, Attorney
Anchorage, Alaska
"Thank you very much for your assistance in this matter. Your opinion letter may become enough to prevent a trial."
~ Sandra G. Slater
Phoenix, AZ