This paper presents an enhanced heuristic segmenter (EHS) and an improved neural-based segmentation technique for segmenting cursive words and validating prospective segmentation points respectively. The EHS employs two new features, ligature detection and a neural assistant, to locate prospective segmentation points. The improved neural-based segmentation technique can then be used to examine the prospective segmentation points by fusion of confidence values obtained from left and centre character recognition outputs in addition to the segmentation point validation (SPV) output. The improved neural-based segmentation technique uses a recently proposed feature extraction technique (modified direction feature) for representing the segmentation points and characters to enhance the overall segmentation process. The EHS and the neural-based segmentation technique have been implemented and tested on a benchmark database providing encouraging results.