AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CAUSE OF ACTION FOR TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE WITH THE RIGHT OF AN INHERITANCE.

HB 7142 creates a new legal right for people to sue if someone intentionally and wrongfully blocked their expected inheritance. To win such a case, a person must prove they had a reasonable expectation of inheriting property, the other person knew about this expectation, acted with intent to interfere, caused the inheritance to fail through wrongful conduct, and suffered actual financial loss. The law allows affected individuals to seek monetary damages, court costs, and attorney fees in Superior Court, but must file the lawsuit within three years of the interfering act. This bill codifies a common law claim previously recognized in some court rulings but not formally established in state statute.