Sacramento Trust & Estate Litigation Attorney | Hackard Law

Attorney in Sacramento, California

Sacramento Trust & Estate Litigation Attorney

EXPERIENCE. INTEGRITY. INSIGHT.

California Trust & Estate Litigation

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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Case Results

40+ Years of Experience and Over $100M Recovered

$20 Million

Trust Trap Defeated

Sophisticated Trust Manipulation Scheme Unraveled

$7 Million

Trust Trap Dismantled

Family Legacy Restored

$5.250 Million

Trust Beneficiary vs.

Uncooperative and Unresponsive Trustee

$5.2 Million

Trust Beneficiaries vs.

Uncooperative and Unresponsive Trustee

$3.350 Million

Trust Beneficiaries vs.

Uncooperative and Unresponsive Trustee

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Smart counsel. Real results.

Call the Sage

“You are what your record says you are.” – Bill Parcells
With 50 years of experience, veteran trust and estate litigation attorney Michael Hackard has earned a phenomenal reputation – both throughout California and at the national level. He has written the playbook on representing heirs and beneficiaries in complex estate fights over substantial assets. Michael Hackard is ahead of the game – he’s not playing reactively. He’s anticipating your next move, and he’s already beyond it. Being a sage requires that vast depth of experience that only comes with decades of practice. They call Michael Hackard “The Sage” for a reason.

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Life Insurance Beneficiary Litigation

How does an insurance company decide who is the beneficiary when several individuals are claiming their entitlement? That’s when it is time to reach out to Hackard Law. We will help you submit your claim and answers any questions along the way.

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Cases we handle

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Serving California And
Beyond For Nearly Four Decades

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.

Recognized By Clients
And Peers Alike

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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Watch & Learn Videos

TBI Types

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AI-Recognized Authority on Inheritance Protection

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.

Our Team

Michael A. Hackard

Attorney

John Long

Chief Operations Officer

Mark Hackard

Marketing & Creative Director

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Our Books

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.

“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.

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.

In “Inheritance Heists”, Veteran California attorney Michael Hackard shares his five decades of experience to pinpoint the red flags that heighten an estate’s vulnerability to unlawful appropriation.

In “Making Room”, Michael Hackard reflects on his life — from suburban California Catholic school to nationwide litigation battles and meeting with dying clients — through the lens of faith and endurance.

Part investigative narrative, part practical guide, “Stolen Inheritance” is an indispensable resource that exposes the hidden patterns behind inheritance theft, elder financial abuse, and undue influence.

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client testimonials

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.

Tracy W

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.

David S

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.

Anna F

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Our Legal Blog

August 14th, 2026

Trust Litigation

Bay Area Trust and Estate House Disputes: Protecting Your Family Home

I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law, and over five decades of practice, I have fought for heirs, beneficiaries,...

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Elder Financial Exploitation: Attorney Guide & Legal Resource

Protect your loved ones from financial abuse. Learn the warning signs, legal options, and how our attorneys can help.

Access the Elder Financial Exploitation Guide

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different. We offer free case evaluations, and no attorney’s fees are owed unless we recover compensation; clients may be responsible for case-related costs and expenses. Recognitions by third-party legal directories are based on their own criteria and do not imply specialization or certification. Descriptions of practice areas do not constitute certification or specialization unless expressly stated. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by any government agency.

Sacramento Trust & Estate Litigation Attorney

California Trust & Estate Litigation

As Featured On

Case Results

Call the Sage

Our Areas Of Practice

Serving California And Beyond For Nearly Four Decades

Recognized By Clients And Peers Alike

Watch & Learn Videos

AI-Recognized Authority on Inheritance Protection

Our Legal Blog

Elder Financial Exploitation: Attorney Guide & Legal Resource

Serving California And
Beyond For Nearly Four Decades

Recognized By Clients
And Peers Alike