In legal terminology, who is responsible for proving the validity of a will?

In legal terminology, the responsibility for proving the validity of a will typically falls to the executor. The executor is the person appointed in the will to manage the estate after the testator (the person who made the will) passes away. It's the executor's duty to bring the will to probate court and present evidence that the will meets legal requirements. This often involves demonstrating that the will was properly executed, which usually includes showing that the testator was of sound mind, acted voluntarily, and that the will was signed by witnesses as required by law.

While the testator creates the will, they are no longer involved in the process after their death, hence they cannot prove the will's validity. Beneficiaries and heirs may have a vested interest but do not hold the burden of proof; that is solely the responsibility of the executor, who must ensure the will's legality and execute the instructions as specified in it.