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HB 6156

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

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jonathan Jacobson

Connecticut bill creating a new lawsuit right when someone wrongfully interferes with another's expected inheritance through manipulation or improper conduct.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Judiciary
#civilactions #inheritance
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Bill Summary · HB 6156

Legislative bill overview

HB 6156 would create a new legal cause of action allowing someone to sue if another person tortiously (wrongfully) interferes with their expected inheritance. Currently, Connecticut law does not recognize this specific tort, meaning heirs have limited recourse if someone improperly influences a testator or manipulates estate proceedings. This bill would fill that gap by establishing grounds for civil liability.

Why is this important

Inheritance disputes involve significant financial interests and family relationships. Creating this cause of action could protect heirs from elder abuse, undue influence, and fraud schemes targeting vulnerable testators. However, it also introduces new litigation risks and could enable frivolous lawsuits over family inheritance disputes, potentially clogging courts and creating expensive litigation over estates.

Potential points of contention

  • Definitional ambiguity: "Tortious interference" is fact-dependent and subjective; determining what constitutes wrongful interference versus legitimate persuasion or influence could be legally unclear and invite litigation over edge cases
  • Burden of proof concerns: Proving someone interfered with an expected (not guaranteed) inheritance requires speculating about what a testator would have done absent interference, which is inherently uncertain
  • Elder abuse overlap: Connecticut already has remedies for elder abuse, fraud, and undue influence; unclear whether this creates needed protections or duplicative/conflicting legal frameworks

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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