Sacramento Trust & Estate Litigation Attorney | Hackard Law
Michael Hackard on Phone
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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As Featured On

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Case Results
$20,000,000
Trust Trap Defeated...
$7,000,000
Trust Trap Dismantled...
$5,250,000
Trust Beneficiary vs....
$5,200,000
Trust Beneficiaries vs....
$3,350,000
Trust Beneficiaries vs....
$3,200,000
Trust Contest and...
$2,800,000
Financial Elder Abuse
$2,650,000
Trust Beneficiary vs....
$2,300,000
Estate Heirs vs....
$1,900,000
Petition for Instructions
$1,860,000
Will Contest
$1,750,000
Trust Beneficiaries vs....
$1,750,000
Financial Elder Abuse
$1,130,000
Trust Beneficiary vs....
$1,060,000
Defense of Trust...
$900,000
Trust Beneficiary vs....
$830,000
Petition for Accounting
$730,000
Trust Contest
$675,000
Trust Beneficiary vs....
$620,000
Petition for Distribution
$600,000
Competing Inheritance Claims
$500,000
Trust Beneficiary vs....
$460,000
Petition to Establish...
$450,000
Trust Beneficiary vs....
$400,000
Elder Financial Abuse
$400,000
Petition to Invalidate...
$400,000
Petition to Invalidate...
$390,000
Financial Elder Abuse
$385,000
Financial Elder Abuse
$370,000
Petition for Distribution
$350,000
Trust Beneficiary vs....
$350,000
Financial Elder Abuse
$340,000
Petition for Distribution
$310,000
Petition to Invalidate...
$280,000
Petition to Invalidate...
$250,000
Petition for Distribution
Our Areas Of Practice
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subscribers on YouTube
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followers on Instagram
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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
TBI
Elder Financial Abuse
Elder Financial Abuse
Trust Litigation
Trust Litigation
Probate & Estate Litigation
Probate & Estate Litigation
Contingency Fees
Contingency Fees

building relationships one client at a time.

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What we have discovered over the past three decades is that when you build a business the right way, you end up building relationships that mean so much more. Led by 40-Year legal veteran Michael Hackard, we exercise a firm-wide commitment to every client that makes it evident we are engaged in our work, empathetic with the client’s situation and intent on producing the best possible outcome. If you are just meeting us, there are a few telltale signs that we live up to the high standards that we set for ourselves — for starters, our 30-plus years as a firm serving individuals and businesses in Greater Sacramento and surrounding counties. That kind of staying power doesn’t come to those who settle for mediocre performance. We believe in better.

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Our Team
John Long
Chief Operations Officer
Mark Hackard
Marketing & Creative Director
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Our Books

Widely regarded as an estate litigation legal expert.

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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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Its-never-just-an-accident Its-never-just-an-accident

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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client testimonials
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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.

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Tracy W
quote

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.

D
David S
quote

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.

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Anna F
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Our Legal Blog
September 8, 2025
Business Succession...

I’ve had business owners walk into my office carrying a stack of legal paperwork and one looming question: “Did I...

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September 5, 2025
Inheritance Heists

I’m Mike Hackard with Hackard Law.  I’m sharing passages from my new book Inheritance Heists – and I hope that...

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September 5, 2025
Inheritance Heists

I’m Mike Hackard with Hackard Law.  I’m sharing passages from my new book Inheritance Heists – and I hope that...

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September 5, 2025
Business Succession...

I’ve had countless conversations with business owners who are crystal clear on how to grow a company, but completely uncertain...

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September 4, 2025
Business Succession...

If you’re like most business owners, you’ve probably had this thought at some point:“I know I need to plan for...

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September 3, 2025
Elder Law...

I’ve been doing this long enough to know when a storm is coming. Sometimes it starts with a whisper:“I just...

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September 2, 2025
Business Succession...

Let me tell you a story. A few years ago, a client, let’s call him Mark, came to us after...

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September 1, 2025
Business Succession...

If you own a business, chances are you’ve already asked yourself one version of this question:“What happens to this place...

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August 29, 2025
Legal Myths

“We Don’t Need an Attorney, We’re Not Rich.” And Other Legal Myths Holding Families Back I’ve lost count of how...

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August 28, 2025
Legal Myths

Let’s be honest. Most business owners don’t leap at the chance to work with a lawyer, especially a business succession...

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August 27, 2025
Elder Law...

I’ve been in this business long enough to see one truth over and over again: families usually don’t call an...

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August 26, 2025
Probate Law

By Michael Hackard When a loved one passes away, families are often left with more questions than answers, and probate...

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August 25, 2025
Trust Laweyrs,...

By Michael Hackard Planning your estate isn’t something most people look forward to. It’s a process that forces us to...

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August 22, 2025
Probate Law

By Michael Hackard When a loved one passes away, grief is immediate. What follows especially when there’s an estate to...

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August 21, 2025
Probate Law

By Michael Hackard When a loved one passes away, grief is often accompanied by legal responsibilities and sometimes, by conflict....

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August 20, 2025
Estate Law,...

By Michael Hackard Choosing an estate planning lawyer is one of the most consequential decisions you can make not just...

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August 19, 2025
Probate Law

By Michael Hackard Probate is a word that often conjures anxiety and for good reason. When a loved one passes...

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August 18, 2025
Estate Law,...

By Michael Hackard Few things are more painful than watching a family fall apart not because of a lack of...

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August 15, 2025
Elder Financial...

They thought they had won. Controlled the money, controlled the doctors, controlled the narrative. But they underestimated one thing: a...

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August 15, 2025
Trust Laweyrs,...

By Michael Hackard In my decades of experience as a California trusts and estates lawyer, I’ve seen more family disputes...

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August 14, 2025
Trust Laweyrs,...

By Michael Hackard Life has a way of reminding us that even our best-laid plans can be upended by the...

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August 13, 2025
Estate Law,...

By Michael Hackard Life often follows a path of routine and predictability until it doesn’t. A sudden illness. An accident....

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August 12, 2025
Estate Law,...

By Michael Hackard Most people don’t spend much time thinking about wills until they have to. A birth, a death,...

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August 11, 2025
Trust Laweyrs

By Michael Hackard There comes a point in nearly every adult’s life when the responsibilities of today and the uncertainties...

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August 8, 2025
Estate Planning

By Michael Hackard In estate law, truth matters. Facts matter. And so does clarity. But when it comes to estate...

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August 7, 2025
Inheritance Heists

I’m Mike Hackard with Hackard Law.  I’m sharing passages from my new book Inheritance Heists – and I hope that...

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August 7, 2025
Estate Planning

By Michael Hackard Some decisions in life can wait. Others can’t. In my years of practicing trust and estate law,...

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August 6, 2025
Trust Laweyrs

By Michael Hackard When families begin thinking about their estate plan, one of the first concerns that comes up is...

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August 5, 2025
Estate Law,...

By Michael Hackard When it comes to estate planning, one of the first questions people ask is: "How much is...

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August 4, 2025
Probate Law

By Michael Hackard Probate. The very word stirs a mixture of confusion, anxiety, and sometimes dread. For many families, it's...

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August 1, 2025
Elder Financial...

One doctor. One evaluation. One diagnosis: incompetent. One result: millions of dollars transferred within 48 hours. Coincidence? Not when you...

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August 1, 2025
Estate Law,...

By Michael Hackard Families aren’t built in a day. They grow over time through generations, through struggles, through love, and...

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July 31, 2025
Estate Law

If you were named a beneficiary or personal representative of an estate, you probably have many questions about your role....

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July 31, 2025
Trust Litigation

If you're an estate executor or beneficiary navigating a dispute over a trust or estate, you may be wondering what...

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July 31, 2025
Probate Law

Understanding how to resolve probate disputes through mediation generally requires sound advice from an experienced attorney. In California, this approach...

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July 31, 2025
Probate Law

You may be asking, “Can you use alternative dispute resolution for probate issues?” The quick answer is yes, you can....

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July 31, 2025
Estate Planning

As a grantor, you want to ensure your heirs do not have to deal with conflict after you die. Estate...

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July 30, 2025
Probate Law

By Michael Hackard In over 40 years of litigating and resolving estate, trust, and elder abuse cases across California, I’ve...

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July 28, 2025
Trust Litigation

By Michael Hackard We live in a world overflowing with information and misinformation. Nowhere is this more true than in...

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July 23, 2025
Elder Financial...

I’m Mike Hackard with Hackard Law.  I’m sharing passages from my new book Inheritance Heists – and I hope that...

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July 17, 2025
Abused Beneficiaries,...

Six months ago, she was just being helpful. Today, she controls every aspect of his financial life. I’m Michael Hackard...

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July 11, 2025
Estate Litigation,...

Who Should Read This Guide? This guide is for California residents, heirs, and beneficiaries facing: • Wrongful exclusion from a...

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July 10, 2025
Abused Beneficiaries

In partnership with MyLaw CLE, veteran trust litigation attorney Michael Hackard and the team from Trial Haus Consulting staged a...

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July 10, 2025
Uncategorized

Litigating against a power of attorney may seem like a challenging endeavor. However, with an experienced Hackard Law attorney on...

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July 10, 2025
Uncategorized

Are you aware of common reasons for estate disputes in California? From heirs contesting the will to disagreements among family...

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July 10, 2025
Uncategorized

Understanding the process and stages of trust and estate litigation is much easier with a clear guide. The process typically...

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July 10, 2025
Probate Law

When a loved one passes away, families are often left not only with emotional loss but also with the responsibility...

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July 9, 2025
Uncategorized

Estate, income, and property taxes could all significantly impact your probate litigation case in California. If not handled properly, these...

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July 9, 2025
Uncategorized

There are many reasons why an estate’s beneficiaries may disagree, from concerns about unfairness to disputes over asset valuation. If...

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July 9, 2025
Uncategorized

What challenges do foreign assets create in estate litigation in California? For starters, it significantly increases the complexity of the...

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July 9, 2025
Probate Law

Losing a loved one is never easy. In addition to the emotional toll of grief, families often face a long...

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