What is a necessary requirement for proving a lost will?

To prove a lost will, the necessary requirement is to establish that the will was properly executed in accordance with the law. This involves proving due execution, which typically means presenting evidence that the will was signed by the testator in the presence of attesting witnesses, who also signed the will themselves. The rationale behind this requirement is to ensure that the will reflects the true intentions of the testator and that proper formalities were observed, even if the physical document is no longer available.

In the context of lost wills, the absence of the original document heightens the need to confirm that execution was valid and meets legal standards. Therefore, the testimony from attesting witnesses or other forms of evidence demonstrating that due execution took place is critical to establishing the validity of the testamentary intent.

Other options in the question do not fulfill the essential legal standard for establishing a lost will. Evidence of the will's original location, for example, may provide context but does not satisfy the burden of proof concerning proper execution. Similarly, testimony from non-attesting witnesses may not hold the same weight in proving the formalities of execution, and a birth certificate of the testator is unrelated to the execution of a will. Thus, focusing on acknowledging that the will was duly