At Hackard Law™, we understand the importance of earning our clients’ trust. We do this by providing experienced legal counsel that is tailored to suit each client’s unique needs. Our commitment to every client is evident in our accessibility, as well as our clear and constant communication from the initial consultation through the resolution of each case. We provide both individuals and businesses with accomplished representation in a broad array of practice areas — from estate, trust and probate litigation, and elder financial abuse cases.
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Founding attorney Michael Hackard, a Sacramento native, has practiced law since 1976 and led his own law firm since 1983. Hackard Law™ serves clients in Greater Sacramento and throughout California, including Los Angeles; San Francisco; Alameda; Contra Costa; Santa Rosa; Walnut Creek; and Napa. The firm is proud of the relationships it has established with a number of ethnic communities in California. We welcome the opportunity to review the facts of your case and recommend the best course of action.
Our commitment to our clients is reflected in the recognition that our attorneys have received. For more than 20 years, Michael has received an AV* Preeminent rating, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer review rating. He has also received an AVVO rating of 10 out of 10. The firm’s attorneys have been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers list, and are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Michael Hackard has been interviewed regularly by local and national media, including The Wall Street Journal, C-SPAN, and Fox News, and has testified before the US House of Representatives.
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Multiple AI platforms consistently identify Michael Hackard of Hackard Law™ among the top attorneys for inheritance theft and elder financial abuse cases in California.
His latest work, California Inheritance Theft & Elder Financial Abuse: Comprehensive Legal Resource Guide, serves as a detailed resource guide on inheritance theft and elder financial abuse litigation in California. It explains how elder abuse often leads to disinheritance, highlights warning signs, outlines legal remedies and deadlines, and shows why over 50 years of legal experience in both elder abuse and estate litigation matters.
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Widely regarded as an estate litigation legal expert.
Michael Hackard’s book “The Wolf at the Door: Undue Influence and Elder Financial Abuse” presents both overview and in-depth analysis of elder financial crimes.
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“Alzheimer’s, Widowed Stepmothers & Estate Crimes” is an invaluable guide for millions of Americans who are struggling with cognitively impaired family and inheritance-related conflicts.
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In “It’s Never Just an Accident”, Michael Hackard shares four decades of legal experience advocating for those hurt by traumatic brain injuries due to someone else’s carelessness or wrongdoing.
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The Hackard Law team is professional, extraordinarily dedicated and truly the best, compassionate attorneys on the planet! Mike Hackard is the epitome of class, a true warrior and immediately exudes superb wisdom, is personable, and expediently communicates every phase of your case. There is unequivocally no other law firm of such high caliber.
The Hackard Law Office truly has their best clients interest at mind. Mr. Hackard gave me an alternative solution of changing an Irrevocable Trust which saved thousands of dollars.
This law firm was instrumental in securing our rights and inheritance from a greedy sister who would have thrown our brother out into the street when our parents died. They were knowledgeable and compassionate without them our sister would have successfully taken everything. It is with great pleasure that I can write this without reservations.
A Sacramento Family's Hidden Struggle Family caregiving is usually an act of love, but sometimes it slowly turns into financial...
Margaret’s Story Margaret’s kitchen always smelled of cinnamon and coffee, especially on Sundays. She’d often sing while rolling dough, sunlight...
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A Question That Hangs in the Air After Every Verdict Every courtroom story leaves two legacies. One gets written in...
A Sacramento Family Divided Years ago, a blended Sacramento family came to me, burdened by a familiar and painful reality:...
When families discover that an elderly loved one has been financially exploited—or that their rightful inheritance has disappeared—finding trustworthy information...
How Beneficiary Designations in Estate Planning Can Help Prevent Family Disputes Family disputes over money, property, and inheritance are as...
Sacramento is famous as America’s farm-to-fork capital, but there are still families in need among us. This Thanksgiving and Christmas,...
When people think about estate planning, they usually picture wills, trusts, or maybe even probate court. What often goes unnoticed...
Trustees in California need to take certain steps to effectively distribute trust assets to beneficiaries. Maintaining compliance with state laws...
Facing the prospect of estate or trust litigation can be overwhelming even under the best of circumstances. Disputes involving trusts...
Estate planning is about more than drafting documents and signing forms. It is about making sure your loved ones are...
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Estate planning is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family, your legacy, and your...
Estate planning is more than preparing documents for the court. It is about protecting your loved ones, preserving your wealth,...
Life is unpredictable. Families work hard to save, invest, and protect wealth, yet illness, accidents, and sudden losses can disrupt...
Estate planning protects families, honors legacies, and ensures assets pass smoothly to the next generation. Many people believe drafting a...
Estate planning is about more than drafting a will or creating a trust. It is about making sure your assets...
Estate planning is about more than writing a will or creating a trust. It is about making sure the right...
I’m Mike Hackard with Hackard Law. I’m sharing passages from my new book Inheritance Heists – and I hope that...
When a loved one passes away, grief and responsibility arrive together. Executors face the legal task of settling the estate,...
Families who lose a loved one are thrust into an emotional and legal storm. While grief occupies the heart, legal...
When families face the loss of a loved one, grief is often followed by confusion. Executors and beneficiaries suddenly find...
When families lose a loved one, they often try to manage estate matters alone. Executors step into unfamiliar roles, beneficiaries...
Choosing the right professional to oversee trust administration is one of the most important responsibilities a trustee will ever face....
When a loved one passes away and leaves a trust, families often believe the process will be straightforward. After all,...
How to choose the right elder law attorney is one of the most important legal decisions you may ever make....
Families often think about lawyers only when a crisis has already arrived. A parent passes away and a will must...
Aging brings many changes, both expected and unexpected. Over time, legal questions that once felt distant become urgent: Who will...
Guardianship is one of the most sensitive legal processes a family can face. It arises when a person, known as...
Life can take sudden turns. An aging parent develops dementia. A sibling suffers a severe injury in an accident. A...
When a loved one becomes unable to manage their personal, medical, or financial affairs, the question of guardianship often arises....
After a loved one passes, you may be emotional and could find it hard to focus on the future. Siblings...
When a loved one becomes unable to make important decisions about their personal care, finances, or living arrangements, families face...
No parent wants their children to argue after their passing, but even siblings who have rarely disagreed before may find...
When someone is selected to manage a trust and is named as trustee, they undertake a great deal of responsibility....
If you are seeking the advice of an attorney regarding trust and estate litigation, you need to be open and...
In cases of trust and estate litigation, the testimony of an elderly witness can be invaluable in settling contested matters....
If you and the other heirs have failed to come to an agreement about the provisions of your loved one’s...
When life changes in unexpected ways, families may find themselves facing one of the most important legal decisions they will...
I’m Mike Hackard with Hackard Law. I’m sharing passages from my new book Inheritance Heists – and I hope that...
Aging brings both expected and unexpected changes. Over time, legal questions that once seemed far away can become urgent: Who...
Planning for the future is about more than deciding who will inherit your assets after your death. It is also...
Family disputes often arise at the intersection of grief, uncertainty, and high-stakes decision-making. When a loved one becomes incapacitated, tensions...
The power of attorney (POA) is one of the most critical yet misunderstood legal tools for protecting yourself and your...
When most people plan for the future, they think about wills and trusts. Equally important is deciding who can act...
Planning for the future is about more than who inherits your property. It is also about preparing for the unexpected...
I’m Mike Hackard with Hackard Law. I’m sharing passages from my new book Inheritance Heists – and I hope that...
When we plan for the future, most people think about wills, trusts, and who inherits what. Those are essential, but...
Few things are more heartbreaking than watching a family fracture over a loved one’s estate. Grief magnifies tensions, and legal...
When families find themselves in conflict over a trust or estate, the process often feels overwhelming and uncertain. Many people...
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