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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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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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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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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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.
Estate planning is meant to offer peace of mind—a roadmap for how a person’s assets and legacy will be handled...
California’s Proposition 19 introduced some of the most sweeping changes to the state’s property tax system in decades—particularly when it...
Creating a Litigation-Proof Trust California families can rely on is more than paperwork—it's about protecting your legacy with intention. A...
I'm Michael Hackard, and it's been more than 40 years since I fought my first will contest case in California...
In California, the line between what's mine and what's ours can get blurry—especially when a loved one passes away, and...
Probate is a legal process that can already feel overwhelming—layered with court procedures, deadlines, and emotional complexity. But for those...
Probate litigation is often filled with complex emotions, delayed timelines, and difficult decisions. But sometimes, urgency leaves no room for...
Probate litigation can feel like a maze—emotional, legal, and deeply personal. Families grieving the loss of a loved one often...
Here's How to Know When most people think about estate planning, they picture a will, maybe a trust, and some...
In the quiet aftermath of a patriarch’s passing, a once-close family found itself unraveling—not from grief but from betrayal, suspicion,...
Estate planning is meant to bring clarity and peace of mind. A well-drafted trust should settle questions about who gets...
In the complex arena of trust and estate litigation, few issues are as pivotal as determining whether the person who...
In the world of trust and estate litigation, deposition testimony in trust dispute cases can be one of the most...
I’m Mike Hackard with Hackard Law. I’m sharing passages from my new book Inheritance Heists – and I hope that...
Grief has no timetable. It arrives in waves, sometimes sharp, sometimes slow. When a loved one passes away, we expect...
I’m Mike Hackard with Hackard Law. I’m sharing passages from my new book Inheritance Heists – and I hope that...
Watching your aging parents become vulnerable is one of the hardest chapters of adult life. You want to protect them—especially...
The passing of a loved one should be a time for family unity, shared memories, and mutual support. But for...
Trusts are designed to bring clarity, stability, and fairness to the management of family wealth. But in practice, they can...
A Guide for Families, Caregivers, and Advocates Elder abuse is often a silent epidemic—one that hides behind closed doors, subtle...
In the world of trust administration, numbers tell a story—and sometimes, that story reveals betrayal, neglect, or mismanagement. Trust beneficiaries...
I’m Mike Hackard with Hackard Law. I’m sharing passages from my new book Inheritance Heists – and I hope that...
Going through estate litigation involves more than just legal rights and court filings, it often involves painful emotions, long-standing family...
Trustees are expected to act in good faith, in the best interests of the beneficiaries, and with unwavering integrity. That...
When an aging loved one begins to rely on others—especially caregivers—for daily support, the balance of trust and power can...
I’m Mike Hackard with Hackard Law. I’m sharing passages from my new book Inheritance Heists – and I hope that...
Inheritance can bring out the best and the worst in families. Trusts are designed to create clarity and avoid conflict....
Estate litigation can strike even the most carefully built legacies. Recent high-profile inheritance disputes – involving celebrities, business leaders, and...
Probate litigation is rarely just about money. It’s about relationships, legacies, power, promises made—and broken. At the center of these...
Real estate is often at the heart of trust and estate disputes. In California – and especially in places like...
Estate disputes are rarely just about the contents of a will or trust. In many cases, the core issue is...
In the world of trusts and estates, fairness isn't always guaranteed—especially when family conflict, manipulation, or misinformation influences the distribution...
When a loved one passes away, the legal process of settling their estate can quickly become overwhelming. Families are often...
Estate planning is designed to preserve your family’s financial security and pass down assets according to your wishes. Yet, the...
Undue influence in California estate law is a pivotal issue in trust and estate litigation, often arising when someone suspects...
Living trusts are often promoted as the gold standard of estate planning—and for good reason. They allow assets to bypass...
When someone passes away in California, their estate often includes more than just money and property—it also includes debts. Credit...
I’m Mike Hackard with Hackard Law. I’m sharing passages from my new book Inheritance Heists – and I hope that...
Blended families are now a common part of modern American life. As remarriage rates rise and multi-parent households become the...
Mediation is often hailed as the preferred route for resolving trust disputes in California. It's cost-effective, confidential, and typically less...
Life has a way of throwing us curveballs. Illness. Injury. Sudden travel. Even cognitive decline. These are the moments when...
What would you do if a lifetime of hard work, carefully saved for your loved ones, suddenly fell into the...
Imagine this scenario: Your elderly father, who once meticulously balanced his checkbook and knew exactly where every penny was going,...
What would you do if a lifetime of hard work, carefully saved for your loved ones, suddenly fell into the...
Have you ever noticed how the reading of a will can both unite and divide a family? For some, inheriting...
Picture this scenario: Your elderly mother, once sharp and fiercely independent, has begun forgetting small details—misplacing her keys, struggling with...
What happens when grief collides with years—sometimes decades—of unspoken family conflict? The passing of a loved one can unite families...
When a loved one dies, emotions run high and families often struggle to find fair solutions for distributing an estate....
When a Stepmother and Inheritance Collide: A Family Tie Turns into a Legal Battle Have you ever wondered what really...
Have You Been Cut Out of Your Loved One’s Estate? Here’s What You Can Do Imagine this scenario: Your parent,...
What happens when the complexity of estate planning collides with the emotional weight of family relationships? For countless families, resolving...
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