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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40+ Years of Experience and Over $100M Recovered
“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.
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.
Read More 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.
By Michael Hackard, Hackard Law The will didn't make sense. For forty years, Margaret Chen had told her three children...
[embed]https://youtu.be/1WkHPrtelzQ[/embed] Why Jury Trials Matter in Elder Financial Abuse Cases Elder financial abuse destroys families. It deprives elderly people who...
[embed]https://youtu.be/mIUBgsH9gd8[/embed] When Addiction Meets Inheritance: A Growing Threat to California Families I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five...
[embed]https://youtu.be/TodJsRnmBLk[/embed] Why Thorough Preparation Defines Every Trust and Estate Case I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over the...
[embed]https://youtu.be/rTVT_eeXieM[/embed] Your Rights as a Trust Beneficiary: A Foundation Built on Decades of Experience If you are a trust beneficiary...
[embed]https://youtu.be/z_Yqo4mtFmI[/embed] When Grief Meets Chaos: The Cost of Common Mistakes I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over more than...
[embed]https://youtu.be/60C_WVtT8w4[/embed] When Science Meets the Law of Inheritance I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over more than five...
By Michael Hackard, Hackard Law By the time most families contact an elder abuse attorney, they're already dealing with catastrophic...
[embed]https://youtu.be/KYgeWsEqW0Q[/embed] Understanding Elder Financial Abuse Through Five Decades of Experience One of the benefits of decades of legal practice is...
[embed]https://youtu.be/8sAYG0VmJr8[/embed] A Proven Mindset Built Over Five Decades Ronald Reagan, when asked about his strategy against the Soviet Union, answered...
[embed]https://youtu.be/OYSiydBIlTo[/embed] Estate Theft Is Rare — But It Still Happens I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over more...
[embed]https://youtu.be/SO0gx34MKKc[/embed] Protecting Our Parents on the Road and Beyond I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law, and over my five...
[embed]https://youtu.be/JiBRU-5kKUY[/embed] What Families Need to Know About Conservatorship Alternatives I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades...
[embed]https://youtu.be/IACBM4dqEtA[/embed] A Sacramento Attorney Reflects on Family Legacy I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over more than five...
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqnkWxGTx70&t=8s[/embed] When a Legend Dies Without a Known Will I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law and a California trust...
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9uubdx-ZwI[/embed] Why Sacramento Families Turn to Hackard Law I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. For more than five...
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77MZo36MOEs[/embed] How Contingency Fees Open the Door to Justice I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over more than...
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T03oiY_APzk&t=13s[/embed] The Human Edge in an AI-Driven Legal World Artificial intelligence is promptly reshaping the practice of law. AI tools...
The trust had been in place for twenty-three years. It was a straightforward document, the kind of sensible estate plan...
[embed]https://youtu.be/PqiA7o0FTzI[/embed] Understanding When Financial Elder Abuse Crosses the Criminal Line I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over more than...
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ogRj5TkDWU&t=2s[/embed] Why They Call Him The Sage Michael Hackard has spent more than five decades fighting for families in California...
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8eeuddLRKA[/embed] Protecting Families Across California When a family's inheritance is at stake, the consequences of inaction can be devastating. Trust...
[embed]https://youtu.be/mLRhzqOEVBw[/embed] When Lies Drive the Inheritance Dispute I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law, and over my five decades of...
[embed]https://youtu.be/W-ctN1JC4UA[/embed] Why Will Challenges Still Matter in California I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over more than five decades...
[embed]https://youtu.be/HKMCTO151kM[/embed] When Your Attorney Understands Brain Trauma From the Inside Most attorneys handle traumatic brain injury cases from a distance....
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8YV_NAskcA[/embed] Understanding the Largest Wealth Transfer in History I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practicing...
They did everything they were supposed to do. They hired an estate planning attorney. They created a living trust. They...
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epTh1DUIhqc[/embed] Protecting Vulnerable Elders From Caregiver Abuse I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over more than five decades of...
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxI2BylDuOM[/embed] I'm Michael Hackard, and I have spent more than five decades litigating trust and estate disputes in California courts....
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRV-F0h7QTM[/embed] I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over more than five decades of practicing trust and estate litigation across...
The trust document said the estate was worth $6 million. The accounting showed less than $800,000. Where did $5.2 million...
Protecting East Sacramento's Most Established Families I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practicing trust, estate,...
[embed]https://youtu.be/n-OC-5wiXu0[/embed] Why Contingency Fees Matter in Trust and Estate Disputes I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades...
The will said everything would be divided equally among the three children. The trust confirmed it. The parents had promised...
By the time families discover that a loved one has been financially exploited, the damage is often staggering. Bank accounts...
In the end, it often comes down to one question: Who does the judge believe? Estate litigation is unique among...
"How could Mom do this to me?" It's one of the most painful questions I hear from clients. They've just...
You've been told you're a beneficiary of a family trust. The trustee, maybe a sibling, maybe a stepparent, maybe a...
Your parents did everything right. They hired an estate planning attorney. They paid for a living trust. They signed all...
Anyone serving as or considering becoming a trustee needs to know their responsibilities, as do the estate’s beneficiaries. Understanding these...
Understanding the responsibilities of a co-trustee may be challenging, especially when you are newly appointed. The grantor chose you for...
Losing a loved one brings about so many emotions, from grief and loss to anger and resentment. During this grieving...
A co-trustee is one of two or more people (or entities) who jointly manage a trust. These individuals have certain...
In California, a trustee has a fiduciary duty to protect the best interests of the beneficiaries, and this individual’s authority...
"Mom always said she wanted me to have the house." "Dad promised he'd leave the business to me if I...
Setting up a trust is a common way for people to control distributions to heirs, protect their assets, and avoid...
As a beneficiary of a trust, you are set to inherit assets as intended by the grantor. But what if...
There are several circumstances that could lead to a trust dispute, from trustee mismanagement to conflicts among beneficiaries. But whether...
Family businesses are the backbone of California's economy. From restaurant chains in Los Angeles to construction companies in the Central...
Elder financial exploitation is a national problem, but the legal remedies available vary significantly from state to state. Some jurisdictions...
Elder financial exploitation cases are unlike any other area of civil litigation. They involve vulnerable victims, family dynamics, fiduciary relationships,...
Protect your loved ones from financial abuse. Learn the warning signs, legal options, and how our attorneys can help.
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