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Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 490.640 (2026)

Comparison of disputed with genuine writings

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  490.640.  Comparison of disputed with genuine writings. — Comparison of a disputed writing with any writing proved to the satisfaction of the judge to be genuine shall be permitted to be made by witnesses, and such writings and the evidence of witnesses respecting the same may be submitted to the court and jury as evidence of the genuineness or otherwise of the writing in dispute.

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(RSMo 1939 § 1915)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 1751; 1919 § 5438; 1909 § 6382

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases, 1956–2018 · leading case: State v. Clark, 592 S.W.2d 709 (Mo. 1979).
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State v. Clark, 592 S.W.2d 709 (Mo. 1979). · cites it 6× “Section 490.640, RSMo 1969, provides: Comparison of a disputed writing with any writing proved to the satisfaction of the judge to be genuine shall be permitted to be made by witnesses, and such writings and the evidence of witnesses respecting the same may be submitted to the…”
Renaissance Leasing, LLC v. Vermeer Mfg. Co., 322 S.W.3d 112 (Mo. 2010). “1979); see also § 490.640 (“Comparison of a disputed writing with any writing proved to the satisfaction of the judge to be genuine shall be permitted to be made by witnesses, and such writings and the evidence of witnesses respecting the same may be submitted to the court and…”
State v. Boyington, 544 S.W.2d 300 (Mo. Ct. App. 1976). · cites it 2× “Under Section 490.640, a disputed writing may be compared with any writing proved genuine to the satisfaction of the judge.”
Perkins v. Dean Mach. Co., 132 S.W.3d 295 (Mo. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 2× “See § 490.640, RSMo 2000. Thus, they are not bound by the expert testimony, even if such testimony is uncontradicted.”
In re Marriage of Schulz, 583 S.W.2d 735 (Mo. Ct. App. 1979). · cites it 2× “Comparison of a disputed signature with an authentic signature is authorized by § 490.640 RSMo. 1969. The authenticity of the signature to be employed as an exemplar for comparison with the disputed signature must be established to the satisfaction of the trial judge.”
State v. Clark, 552 S.W.2d 256 (Mo. Ct. App. 1977). · cites it 2× “The issue presented by this claim of error must be viewed in the light of § 490.640, RSMo 1969, which provides: “Comparison of a disputed writing with any writing proved to the satisfaction of the judge to be genuine shall be permitted to be made by witnesses, and such writings…”
Kulhanek v. State, 560 S.W.3d 94 (Mo. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “See Section 490.640; see also State v. Swigert , 852 S.”
State v. Watt, 531 S.W.3d 540 (Mo. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 3× “Section 490.640 addresses the admissibility of handwriting exemplars as demonstrative evidence.”
Boyd v. Civil Serv. Comm'n of St. Louis, 657 S.W.2d 83 (Mo. Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 7× “Appellant here contends that the Commission’s decision was not supported by competent and substantial evidence, because the Commission never formally admitted the handwriting samples as *86 evidence, and further because those samples were not authenticated as required by §…”
State v. Robinett, 63 S.W.3d 236 (Mo. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “As section 490.640 states: Comparison of a disputed writing with any writing proved to the satisfaction of the judge to be genuine shall be permitted to be made by witnesses, and such writings and the evidence of witnesses respecting the same may be submitted to the court and…”
Est. of Fedina v. Fedina, 491 S.W.2d 552 (Mo. 1973). · cites it 3× “They refer to § 490.640, RSMo 1969. That section authorizes the comparison of a disputed writing with any writing proved to the satisfaction of the judge to be genuine.”
State v. Farmer, 612 S.W.2d 441 (Mo. Ct. App. 1981). · cites it 2× “Section 490.640 RMSo 1969, provides: “Comparison of a disputed writing with any writing proved to the satisfaction of the judge to be genuine shall be permitted to be made by witnesses, and such writings and the evidence of witnesses respecting the same may be submitted to the…”
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