Stolen Inheritance: How the Vulnerable Lose Their Estates—and What Families Can Do

For more than fifty years, California trust and estate litigator Michael Hackard has represented families caught in the aftermath of inheritance theft, elder financial abuse, and undue influence. In Stolen Inheritance: How the Vulnerable Lose Their Estates—and What Families Can Do, he exposes the hidden patterns behind some of the most devastating family conflicts imaginable.

Drawing on actual cases and a lifetime in the courtroom, Hackard demonstrates that inheritance theft is rarely a single event. It is a process—one that often begins with isolation, secrecy, and small changes that family members dismiss until the damage is done.

Part investigative narrative, part practical guide, Stolen Inheritance is an indispensable resource—and a powerful reminder that the people we love are often most vulnerable when they need protection the most.