About Kathy Carlson
Take Comfort In Knowing I’m Qualified For Your Case
Curriculum Vitae
Kathy Carlson, a Certified, Court Qualified Forensic Document Examiner, has studied handwriting examination and apprenticed under some of the leading Court Qualified Experts since 2009. While I focus mainly on the western side of the United States, I also serve wherever I am needed nationwide and beyond.
I have a printable version of my CV (Curriculum Vitae). Please contact me to request a copy.
Forensic Examination Provided For:
Disputed documents or signatures including: Contracts, Loans, Checks, Warranty Deeds, Quitclaim Deeds, Real Estate Contracts, Deeds of Trust, Wills, Codicils, Holographic Wills, Beneficiaries, Income Tax Fraud, Poison Pen Letters, Anonymous Writing, Divorce Disputes, and Graffiti.
Investigation and analysis including: Questioned Signatures, Suspect Documents (Typed and Written), Suspect Alterations, Handwritten Numbers, Paper Verification and Indented Writing. Analysis of Paper and Ink through UV, IR lighting and Filters.
Proficiency Testing & Certifications
Provided through International School of Forensic Document Examination included:
Ten test cases to work efficiently from start to finish without supervision – Completed 12/2010
- Collaborative Testing Services (CTS) – January 2013
- Scientific Association of Forensic Examiners (SAFE) Certification – September 24, 2013
- International Association of Document Examiners (IADE) Certification – January 31, 2015
International Association of Document Examiners (IADE) Certification – September 2016
Signature Identification Testing – Identify 20 Genuine, Simulated or Disguised signatures when compared to 20 known signatures.
International Association of Document Examiners (IADE) January 2017 – Proficiency Testing
International Association of Document Examiners (IADE) January 2018 – Proficiency Testing
Scientific Association of Forensic Examiners (SAFE) September, 2018 – Re-Certification
International Association of Document Examiners (IADE) January 2019 – Proficiency Testing
Education
International School of Forensic Document Examination
April 2009-December 2010
A 2-year apprenticeship with leading authorities in the field of handwriting analysis and document examination.
Training in handwriting and document examination includes:
Handwriting identification and discrimination, signature comparison, techniques for distinguishing forged signatures, disguised handwriting, altered numbers, anonymous writing, factors that affect writing, Paper and Ink Analysis with UV-IR Lighting and Filters.
Continued Education
Katherine Koppenhaver, Teacher and Mentor Board Certified Forensic Document Examiner
May 23, 2011 – Present
One hour weekly classes on various subjects.
SAFE (Scientific Association of Forensic Examiners) – Monthly CE Class
November 14, 2014 – Mike Wakshull
IR Lighting/UV/Blue LED Filter Wheel – 1.5 HoursJanuary 15, 2015 – Mike Wakshull
Court Room Bias – 1 HourFebruary 11, 2015 & March 25, 2015 – Jason Harden
Forensic Mortgage Loan Auditor
Mortgage Fraud – 2 HoursMarch 29, 2017 – Tay Eue Kam
Chinese Handwriting & Polish Handwriting
1.2 Hours
IADE (International Association of Document Examiners) – Quarterly CE Class
March 21, 2019 – Kathy Carlson
Importance of a CV
1 HourMay 16, 2019 – Nanette Barto
Dementia & How it Affects Handwriting
1.25 Hours
Forensic Conferences & Workshops
National Association of Document Examiners (NADE) – Annual Conference
Montreal, Canada – May 19-21, 2011 – 22 HoursAssociation of Forensic Document Examiners (AFDE)
Louisville, KY – November 3-6, 2012 – 20.5 hoursNational Association of Document Examiners (NADE) – Annual Conference
San Diego, CA – April 25-29, 2012 – 34 hoursOpen Source Intelligence Training
Los Angeles, CA – May 11-12, 2012 – 16 hoursForensic Document Examination Interactive Training
Edgewood, MD – September 28-29, 2012 – 24 hoursPrivate Investigators Academy of the Rockies – Study of Private Investigations
Denver, CO – April 30 – May 16, 2013– 18 hoursScientific Association of Forensic Examiner (SAFE) – Interactive Seminar & Workshop
Edgewood, MD – September 26-28, 2013 – 24 hoursScientific Association of Forensic Examiner (SAFE) – Interactive Seminar & Workshop
Boca Raton, FL – August 14-16, 2014 – 19 hoursScientific Association of Forensic Examiner (SAFE)
July 31 & August 28, 2015 – Webinar Seminar – 10 hoursInternational Association of Document Examiners (IADE) – Interactive Seminar & Workshop
Jamaica – September 10-12, 2015 – 21 hoursScientific Analysis (ACE-V) From the Laboratory to the Witness Stand
Sandy City Police Department – Utah October 19-23, 2015 – 40 hoursNational Association of Document Examiners (NADE) – Annual Conference
Portland, OR – April 13-16, 2016 – 26 hoursScientific Association of Forensic Examiner (SAFE)
July 29, 2016 & August 26, 2016 – Webinar Seminar – 12 hoursInternational Association of Document Examiners (IADE) – Interactive Seminar & Workshop
Annapolis, MD – September 15-17, 2016 – 20 hoursNational Association of Document Examiners (NADE) – Annual Conference
New Orleans, LA – May 15-18, 2017 – 25 HoursScientific Association of Forensic Examiner (SAFE)
August 4th & August 25th, 2017 – Webinar Seminar – 12 hoursInternational Association of Document Examiners (IADE) – Interactive Seminar & Workshop
Denver, Colorado – September 6th-9th, 2017 – 22 hours
Co-Ordinator & HostInternational Association of Document Examiners (IADE) – Interactive Webinar
August 24th & 25th, 2018 – Webinar Seminar – 12 Hours
Co-Ordinator & HostScientific Association of Forensic Examiner (SAFE)
September 6th & October 4th, 2019 – Webinar Seminar – 12 HoursInternational Association of Document Examiners (IADE) – Seminar & Workshop
Montego Bay, Jamaica – September 12 – 14th, 2019 – 21 HoursInternational Association of Document Examiners (IADE) – Interactive Webinar
September 21st – 23rd, 2020 – Webinar Seminar – 12 Hours
Co-Ordinator & HostScientific Association of Forensic Examiner (SAFE) Annual Conference
September 11th & October 2nd, 2020 – Webinar Seminar – 10 hoursInternational Association of Document Examiners (IADE) Interactive Webinar
September 13th – 15th, 2021 – Webinar Seminar – 12 HoursScientific Association of Forensic Examiner (SAFE) Annual Conference
August 27 & October 1st, 2021 – Webinar Seminar – 10 hours
Presenter
- Montrose Area Realtors
First Indicators of Forgery 2014 - International Conference – Jamaica
September 10, 2015 Ink Analysis – Analysis under Filters and IR Lighting Interactive Seminar & Workshop – Denver Colorado – September 6th – 9th, 2017
Working in Photoshop Elements & Word
Is it the Scanner or Cut & Paste?- International Association of Document Examiners (IADE) – Interactive Seminar & Workshop
Denver, Colorado – September 6th – 9th, 2017 – 22 hours
Co-Ordinator & Host - International Association of Document Examiners (IADE) – Interactive Webinar & Workshop
Online – August 24th – 25th, 2018 – 12 hours
Co-Ordinator & Host International Association of Document Examiners (IADE) – Jamaica
September 13, 2019
Is Document Examination a Science?
Publications
Is Document Examination a Science?
Published in “The Scientific Journal of the International Association of Document Examiners”
Volume 2 – Fall 2015
Laboratory Equipment
- AmScope stereoscope with a digital camera attached .5 – 30X magnification
- MiScope IR/UV Microscope 40 – 140X magnification
- MiScope Filter Wheel (Blue and UV lighting)
- ProScope Micro Mobile wireless microscope 10 – 180X magnification
- Numerous other magnifying devices
Light box
- Various measuring devices
- HP Computer with a HP OfficeJet Pro copier
Printer
Scanner Combination
- Kyocera Combination Copier
- Various art programs installed on desk top computer
- Asus Laptop Computer
- Fuji 12.2 Mega Pixels 18X Optical Zoom camera
NeuroScript MovAlyzeR version 6
Professional Memberships

Librarian and Member
Scientific Association of Forensic Examiners (SAFE)
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VP & CE Education Chair and Member
International Association of Document Examiners (IADE)
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Member
Rocky Mountain Division of International Association of Identification (RMDIAI)
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Research and Member
International Graphonomics Society (IGS)
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Member
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
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