Forensic document examination is one of the most testing areas of forensic science and is well established in British and international courts of law.

The discipline is extremely broad, involving the study of all types of document to determine authenticity, expose forgery or reveal aspects of origin and history. In addition to handwriting and signature authentication, a forensic document examiner studies inks, typewriting, impressions, printing, alterations, photocopies and the products of modern office technology – areas beyond the limited scope of so-called "handwriting expert".

Another key distinction is the forensic document examiner's use of strictly scientific methods and objective processes to outline the issues, weigh the evidence and explain the relevance and significance of the facts and conclusions.