I’m Mike Hackard. At 70, I count among America’s elderly. My work as a lawyer and author involves speaking out for the protection of the elderly. And it’s not just because I’m 70. It’s because I know that life is a gift – for young or old. Our culture often minimizes the value of our elders. When challenged - silence can be overwhelming. Pope Francis is a leading voice that challenges us to do better. He’s said that a society that doesn’t help and reach out to its elderly is “perverse.” A society that discards its elderly is one that “carries the virus of death.” This culture magnifies “the elderly’s anguish over being barely tolerated and abandoned.” At Hackard Law, we fight for the elderly in Califor[...]

I’m Mike Hackard of Hackard Law. California is my home and has been for all of my life. I went to college and law school here. We’ve raised our family here in Sacramento. It’s a privilege for me to serve the California community from our office right here in Sacramento County. I have an AV Preeminent Rating granted by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™. This rating is limited to an elite group of approximately 10 percent of all attorneys. And, I’ve earned this rating for decades. If you have a trust, estate, or financial elder abuse dispute, call us at 916 313-3030 or visit hackardlaw.com. You’ll get the understanding and experience of a local team and the power of a law firm that litigates for clients through[...]

Estate planning meltdowns touch many families. – small and large. Celebrity estate fights spotlight the mishaps of the rich and famous. But, far more common misfires hit the local probate court docket with little fanfare. Little fanfare does not mean little pain. Family members fighting to reverse unexpected transfers of a deceased family member’s assets feel deep wounds. These wounds may flow from betrayal, duplicity, even treachery. These are strong words. Do case facts mirror such words? Let’s look at one common scenario and see. Second-family disputes occupy their share of court dockets. We know that divorce is an American constant. Some 50% of marriages end in divorce. And, many divorced men and women remarry. Remarri[...]

“Nothing gained, much lost” describes lost opportunity. In our field of estate, trust, and elder financial abuse litigation, it can describe lawsuits gone wild. Most estate and trust litigants have not experienced the rigors of litigation. Once experienced, few would describe it as fun. They might describe it as a necessary choice. Undue influence on elders that results in estate, trust or elder financial abuse is often the lawsuit’s catalyst. Once started, lawsuits should not take on a life of their own. Civil litigation is designed to gain civil ends. Not to become life’s sole focus. The common end is the recovery of money or real property. And, the recovery is often following a pretrial settlement. Some 97% of all civil [...]

I’m Michael Hackard. For over 40 years, I’ve had the opportunity to help you in your most difficult times. And wrongful estate, trust and elder financial abuse takings may happen in a matter of days but the impact on a family, loss of income and assets, can last a long time – maybe a lifetime. Our job is to make sure that your justice compensates your family for its losses and protects them from further injuries. Remember, we’re not just lawyers. We’re your lawyers. Hackard Law: For Abused Beneficiaries and Heirs. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXTIgleBz3o[/embed][...]

When an elder suffers financial abuse, it’s more complicated than just how much was taken. Many times it involves a caregiver, an elder adult impaired by dementia or Alzheimer’s, a wrongful transfer of property either before or after the older adult’s death – it’s so important to get the facts right as soon as possible. Our estate and trust litigation lawyers need to be investigating these cases – day one. All trust litigation cases are not the same. Time is of the essence. Hackard Law: For Abused Beneficiaries and Heirs. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbiiZki-ics[/embed][...]

If you’re an injured trust beneficiary or a wrongly disinherited heir, remember this. We’re not just lawyers, we’re your lawyers. Hackard Law: For Abused Beneficiaries and Heirs. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04NSKpJzWyQ[/embed][...]

If you’re a wronged trust beneficiary or an injured disinherited heir, it’s important that you hire your lawyers, sooner, rather than later. Witnesses move away. Memories wane. Evidence vanishes. Assets go missing. To delay is deadly. Hackard Law: For Abused Beneficiaries and Heirs. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w6uFGrqX_I[/embed][...]

All of us are now enduring the COVID-19 pandemic. And, while we’re in the same storm we’re in different boats. This is life. And in life we know that attitude counts. Particularly an attitude of gratitude. Now, in my fifth decade of law practice, I’m reflecting upon how attitude affects legal cases. A victor attitude is an acceptance, an embrace, of our personal responsibility for our actions. It is not a false confidence. It doesn’t get lost in blame. It is a commitment to endure – to persevere. For those grounded in the Judeo-Christian tradition it is an expectation that God is at work in our lives – to heal, to mend, and to provide. We have all had challenging times – health, grief, and other losses. And, in lookin[...]

Have You Ever Wondered What Happens If You Die Without a Will in California? Sometimes we get so busy with daily life that we forget to take time out to plan for big life events, like distribution of our assets after we pass away. Writing a will and creating an estate plan is one of those important things on our list that we intend to get to someday, but there never seem to be enough hours in a day. Unfortunately, this means some people pass away without a will. So you may be wondering what happens if you die without a will in California? If you die in California without creating a valid will, then you’re said to die “intestate.” This means the distribution of your remaining property and assets will not necessarily proceed a[...]