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.

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.

  • Ten test cases to work efficiently from start to finish without supervision provided through International School of Forensic Document Examination – 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
SAFE 2020 Conference CE
IADE 2020 appreciation for conference
SAFE 2021 Conference Certificate
IADE 2021 Conference Certificate
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 Hours

  • January 15, 2015 – Mike Wakshull
    Court Room Bias – 1 Hour

  • February 11, 2015 & March 25, 2015 – Jason Harden
    Forensic Mortgage Loan Auditor
    Mortgage Fraud – 2 Hours

  • March 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 Hour

  • May 16, 2019 – Nanette Barto
    Dementia & How it Affects Handwriting
    1.25 Hours

Kathy Carlson, Forensic Document Examiner

Forensic Document Examiner

P.O. Box 782
Montrose, CO 81402

Phone: (970) 275-6846

Office and Lab

Office Interior of Western Forensic Document Examiner
The office of Western Forensic Document Examiner

Note: We are not attorneys. We do not dispense legal advice. You should obtain legal advice from a suitable attorney.

Forensic Conferences & Workshops

  • National Association of Document Examiners (NADE) – Annual Conference
    Montreal, Canada – May 19-21, 2011 – 22 Hours

  • Association of Forensic Document Examiners (AFDE)
    Louisville, KY – November 3-6, 2012 – 20.5 hours

  • National Association of Document Examiners (NADE) – Annual Conference
    San Diego, CA – April 25-29, 2012 – 34 hours

  • Open Source Intelligence Training
    Los Angeles, CA – May 11-12, 2012 – 16 hours

  • Forensic Document Examination Interactive Training
    Edgewood, MD – September 28-29, 2012 – 24 hours

  • Private Investigators Academy of the Rockies – Study of Private Investigations
    Denver, CO – April 30 – May 16, 2013– 18 hours

  • Scientific Association of Forensic Examiner (SAFE) – Interactive Seminar & Workshop
    Edgewood, MD – September 26-28, 2013 – 24 hours

  • Scientific Association of Forensic Examiner (SAFE) – Interactive Seminar & Workshop
    Boca Raton, FL – August 14-16, 2014 – 19 hours

  • Scientific Association of Forensic Examiner (SAFE)
    July 31 & August 28, 2015 – Webinar Seminar – 10 hours

  • International Association of Document Examiners (IADE) – Interactive Seminar & Workshop
    Jamaica – September 10-12, 2015 – 21 hours

  • Scientific Analysis (ACE-V) From the Laboratory to the Witness Stand
    Sandy City Police Department – Utah October 19-23, 2015 – 40 hours

  • National Association of Document Examiners (NADE) – Annual Conference
    Portland, OR – April 13-16, 2016 – 26 hours

  • Scientific Association of Forensic Examiner (SAFE)
    July 29, 2016 & August 26, 2016 – Webinar Seminar – 12 hours

  • International Association of Document Examiners (IADE) – Interactive Seminar & Workshop
    Annapolis, MD – September 15-17, 2016 – 20 hours

  • National Association of Document Examiners (NADE) – Annual Conference
    New Orleans, LA – May 15-18, 2017 – 25 Hours

  • Scientific Association of Forensic Examiner (SAFE)
    August 4th & August 25th, 2017 – Webinar Seminar – 12 hours

  • 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
    August 24th & 25th, 2018 – Webinar Seminar – 12 Hours
    Co-Ordinator & Host

  • Scientific Association of Forensic Examiner (SAFE)
    September 6th & October 4th, 2019 – Webinar Seminar – 12 Hours

  • International Association of Document Examiners (IADE) – Seminar & Workshop
    Montego Bay, Jamaica – September 12 – 14th, 2019 – 21 Hours

  • International Association of Document Examiners (IADE) – Interactive Webinar
    September 21st – 23rd, 2020 – Webinar Seminar – 12 Hours
    Co-Ordinator & Host

  • Scientific Association of Forensic Examiner (SAFE) Annual Conference
    September 11th & October 2nd, 2020 – Webinar Seminar – 10 hours

  • International Association of Document Examiners (IADE) Interactive Webinar
    September 13th – 15th, 2021 – Webinar Seminar – 12 Hours

  • Scientific 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

  • Electrostatic Vacuum Box for analyzing indented writing
  • HS9P Forensic Image Analyzer with UVA UVC White IR Blue Magnetic Imaging
Professional Memberships
Scientific Association of Forensic Examiners (SAFE) Logo

Librarian and Member
Scientific Association of Forensic Examiners (SAFE)
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International Association of Document Examiners (IADE) Logo

President & CE Education Chair and Member
International Association of Document Examiners (IADE)
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Rocky Mountain Division of International Association of Identification (RMDIAI) Logo

Member
Rocky Mountain Division of International Association of Identification (RMDIAI)
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International Graphonomics Society

Research and Member
International Graphonomics Society (IGS)
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American Association for the Advancement of Science Logo

Member
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
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Let’s Set-Up Your Free Consultation.
Call (970) 275-6846

Let’s Get Started