At this stage of assignment, caution and wisdom dictate several likely limitations to the preliminary report:

• Only a preliminary opinion is required.
• Findings may be tentative.
• Statements may be substantially qualified and limited.
• The report is subject to a list of remaining investigative tasks.

At the same time the expert makes the preliminary report, the expert may be restating, reevaluating and recasting preliminary hypotheses. The investigative process may have taken a surprise turn. The expert should maintain contact with the requesting attorney or department. Facts that have been uncovered may require further discovery or investigation, which the expert may need to know in order to conduct additional testing.

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