ALTERED DOCUMENTS
A document can be altered in two basic ways. Something can be added, like a clause at the end of a contract. Or something can be deleted, like the amount of medication prescribed to a patient. Of course, these alterations can be combined, as in the case of a word being erased and replaced with a different word. Quite often, document examination can determine not only that an alteration has taken place, but what the document originally said.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
Document examination may be able to determine if a signature was placed on a document before or after the document was completely filled out - or if the document was notarized before or after it was signed.
CONTEMPORANEOUS WRITING
With a list, such as a ledger, or medical record, document examination can often determine if the entries were made over a long period of time, as they should be, or in one sitting, as in the case of falsified records.
INSERTED OR DELETED PAGES
When examining a multi-page document, such as a will or contract, it is possible to detect missing or added pages. In the case of missing pages, it is often possible to determine what was on those pages.
OFFICE EQUIPMENT
Document examination can be used to determine which office copier, check writer, typewriter, or fax machine produced a document.