What is the strongest evidence to indicate that a late-in-life change to a will was not validly executed?

The strongest evidence indicating that a late-in-life change to a will was not validly executed is the absence of the original will after the testator's death. A will typically must meet certain formalities to be considered valid, which often include being in writing, signed by the testator, and witnessed. If the original will is missing, it raises significant questions about whether the testator effectively revoked it or whether any subsequent effort to change the will adhered to the necessary legal requirements.

The legal presumption usually is that if the original will cannot be found, it may have been destroyed with the intent to revoke it. This can create challenges in establishing what the decedent's true intentions were posthumously, especially if evidence of new changes is lacking or if another will was not properly executed following the legal standards.

In contrast, other options may not provide strong evidence of invalid execution. An oral statement revoking a provision lacks the formal execution required for testamentary documents and may not suffice; the presence of witnesses alone does not guarantee the proper ceremonial execution of a will unless they can confirm its validity in compliance with legal standards; a signed statement contradicting the original intent does not prove the legal execution of a will, but instead merely reflects a claim. Thus