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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50 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 40 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. He has been repeatedly selected as a Super Lawyer (2014; 2015; 2021; 2022; 2023; 2024; 2025; and 2026), and he is a member 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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Michael Hackard’s resource guide, 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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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.
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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.
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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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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.
What It Really Takes to Pursue a Trust or Estate Case I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law, a Northern...
Here is a situation I see too often, told through a composite with the details changed. A man I'll call...
What Estate Plan Sabotage Really Means I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practice, I have...
Why Probate Costs Matter - and Why They Are Only Part of the Story I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard...
Why the Cost Question Deserves a Real Answer I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practice,...
Why These Myths Put Your Business at Risk I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practice,...
Why Timing Is Everything in an mTBI Claim I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practice,...
Who We Are and Why This Matters I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practice, I...
A woman I'll call Lillian sat across from me in my Sacramento office and said something I have heard, in...
When the Estate Plan You Expected Never Existed I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practice,...
Who Is Michael Hackard and Why Does Presentation Matter in Estate Law? I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law....
When Fiduciaries Fail, Families Pay the Price I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practice, I...
A Memory That Still Resonates I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Fifty years ago, I was a senior...
A man I'll call Victor came to see me after his father died holding what the family believed was a...
When Families Face Betrayal, the Fight for Justice Begins I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of...
Why Letters Don't Protect Heirs - Litigation Does I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over nearly five decades of...
When There Is No Will, California Has One for You I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades...
When a Family Business Becomes the Battlefield I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over nearly five decades of practice,...
You Should Not Have to Face This Alone I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law, and I have spent...
Understanding Your Rights After a Traumatic Brain Injury I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of...
A woman I'll call Teresa called our office not long after her mother died. I have changed the details, but...
Why Families Ask the Wrong Question First I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practice,...
Why I Wrote Inheritance Heist I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practice, I have fought...
When the Real Fight Is Over What's Missing I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practice,...
The Story Behind the Art I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over my five decades of practice, I...
A woman I’ll call Ellen called our office when her mother’s savings had been wiped out. Changed the details but...
The Pattern That Keeps Appearing I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practice, I have...
Why Vacation Homes Demand Careful Estate Planning I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practice,...
Why Mediation Matters in Estate and Trust Disputes I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of...
A Story That Starts Normally - and Turns Suspicious I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law, and over my...
When the Policy Payout Goes to the Wrong Person I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades...
A Personal Connection to Lahaina My name is Michael Hackard, and I am the founder of Hackard Law . I...
A man I'll call Raymond came to see me after his brother died at 58. I have changed the details,...
What Every Beneficiary Should Understand Before Expecting a Distribution I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades...
Why the Probate Code Is the Backbone of Every Estate Fight I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over...
Why Capacity Evaluations Matter in Trust Disputes I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practice,...
Why Pattern Recognition Matters in Estate and Trust Cases I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of...
Three days later, a woman I’ll call Patricia called our office. She was sitting across from her sister at their...
Why Crypto Is Now an Estate Dispute Problem I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practice,...
Four Years, One Mission: Protecting California's Elders I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practice, I...
Who Manages an Estate - and Does It Matter? I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over my five decades...
A Personal Story Before the Legal Work I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. For nearly five decades, I...
When Anger Becomes the Real Adversary I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over more than five decades of practice,...
Understanding the Law That Protects California's Elders I'm Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of practice, I...
A woman I will call Sandra called our office about eight months after her mother died. Her mother had done...
Who Bears the Burden - and Why It Changes Everything I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five...
When a Celebrity Case Reveals a Nationwide Crisis I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of...
The Case That Changed a Movement - and a Family I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law, and for...
The Brooke Astor Story: A Warning Every Family Should Hear I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five...
I have sat across from families who did everything right. The trust was current. The will was signed. The powers...
Rooted in Sacramento: A Lawyer's Perspective on Home I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law, and I was born...
Protect your loved ones from financial abuse. Learn the warning signs, legal options, and how our attorneys can help.
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