House Bill No. 7142 establishes a new civil cause of action for tortious interference with the right of inheritance, allowing individuals to seek legal recourse in Superior Court if they believe someone has unlawfully obstructed their expected inheritance. The bill outlines specific conditions that must be met for an action to be valid, including the expectation of receiving an inheritance, the other party's knowledge of this expectation, their intent to interfere, the tortious nature of their conduct, and the actual economic loss suffered by the aggrieved party. Additionally, the bill sets a three-year statute of limitations for bringing such actions, starting from the date of the alleged tortious act.

This legislation introduces new legal language into Connecticut law, specifically creating a framework for addressing tortious interference with inheritance rights, which is not currently recognized under state law. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and is anticipated to have no significant fiscal impact on the state or municipalities, as the number of cases arising from this new cause of action is expected to be manageable within the existing court system.