House Bill No. 7142 establishes a new civil cause of action for tortious interference with the right of an inheritance, allowing individuals to seek legal recourse if they believe someone has unlawfully obstructed their expected inheritance. The bill outlines specific conditions under which a person can bring an action in Superior Court, including having a reasonable expectation of receiving an inheritance, the other party's knowledge of this expectation, and evidence of tortious conduct that resulted in economic loss. Additionally, the bill sets a three-year statute of limitations for filing such actions, starting from the date of the alleged interference.

This legislation introduces new legal language to Connecticut law, specifically creating a framework for addressing tortious interference with inheritance rights, which is not currently recognized in state law but is acknowledged in the Restatement of the Law Second, Torts. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and does not anticipate any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities, as the number of cases is expected to be manageable within the existing court system.