Fighting for the Underdog: How Hackard Law Transforms Victims into Victors

Publication Date July 3, 2026 in Estate Litigation

Who Is Michael Hackard and Why Does It Matter to You?

I am Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law, and I have spent more than five decades as a lawyer and advocate for people who needed someone in their corner. Over that time, I have written four published books on protecting families and their inheritances, produced more than 1,000 educational videos that have reached over seven million viewers, and built a practice that serves clients across Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Los Angeles. But none of that is what drives me. What drives me is the same thing that drove me forty years ago: a deep belief that people who have been hurt deserve a fierce, committed advocate.

My mother – proud of her Irish heritage – used to call me the Fighting Irish. She was not wrong. Whether the case implicates a serious vehicle accident, a wrongful death, a disputed trust, or elder financial abuse, I bring that same fighting spirit to every client I represent. When you are at your most vulnerable, you need a lawyer who will not back down.

Hackard Law provides contingency fee representation for qualified cases, meaning there are no upfront costs to you. Call us today at (916) 313-3030 to discuss your situation.

Quick Summary

Hackard Law is a California litigation firm that fights for injury victims, wrongful death families, and heirs, beneficiaries, and elder abuse victims who have been harmed by the actions of others.

The firm has over five decades of combined litigation experience.
Hackard Law serves clients across California, including Sacramento, the Bay Area, and Los Angeles.
Contingency fee representation means qualified clients pay no legal fees unless the firm recovers for them.
The firm’s mission is to transform clients from victims to victors by telling their story with power and precision.
Serious cases – vehicle accidents, wrongful deaths, trust disputes – require a lawyer who will fight without hesitation.

From Victim to Victor: The Philosophy Behind Every Case

I keep saying the same thing: we turn our clients from victims to winners. That is not commercial terminology. It describes what litigation truly accomplishes when it is handled properly. A customer who has lost a family member due to someone else’s carelessness or who has suffered severe injuries in an accident shows up at our door with dread, confusion, and grief. It is our responsibility to tell their story—the truth about what actually occurred to them—in a way that results in justice.

Every case is built on the client’s narrative. The facts matter. The timeline matters. The human cost matters. A steadfast commitment to truth restores what dishonesty tried to steal, and a relentless pursuit of the full story is what separates a strong case from a weak one. I have seen this principle hold across decades of litigation, and it remains the foundation of how Hackard Law approaches every matter we take on.

For clients navigating the most common legal battles families face, our overview of the top 10 most common probate, trust, and estate disputes offers useful context on what to expect.

Serious Wrecks and Wrongful Death: When the Stakes Could Not Be Higher

Everything is instantly altered by a major car accident. Medical expenses go up. Income evaporates. The burden of recuperation strains relationships. In addition to sadness, the surviving family must deal with a judicial system that may not care about their loss when a wreck causes death.

Hackard Law takes these cases seriously because the consequences are serious. The financial toll grows with every passing week – lost wages, ongoing care costs, funeral expenses, and the long shadow of permanent injury or loss. The fracture a wrongful death causes in a family often runs too deep for any judgment to fully mend. But justice, pursued with skill and determination, can provide accountability and financial relief, allowing families to move forward.

Case Pattern: In a tragedy brought on by a careless driver, a family in Northern California lost a parent. The insurance company’s original offer was a fraction of the actual damages. After rigorous inquiry and aggressive negotiating, the family received a recovery that reflected the full cost of their loss – not only the medical expenses, but the human toll.

If you are dealing with a vehicle accident or wrongful death, the first step is understanding your rights. Reach out through our contact page to talk to our team.

Trust and Estate Litigation: Protecting What Families Built

Hackard Law is also deeply rooted in trust and estate litigation across California. Families in Sacramento, Alameda County, Santa Clara, Glendale, and throughout the state turn to us when a trustee has failed in their duties, when a will has been altered under suspicious circumstances, or when a loved one has been financially exploited.

These lawsuits require the same level of perseverance as any personal injury case. Elder abuse victims, heirs, and beneficiaries should receive representation commensurate with the severity of their losses. These are serious disagreements: a sibling who misappropriates trust assets, a caregiver who coerces a vulnerable elder into altering their estate plan, or a trustee who withholds accountings. These are betrayals with serious financial and psychological repercussions.

For families in the Sacramento region, our Sacramento County probate litigation page outlines the legal options available. Clients in the Bay Area can learn more about Alameda County estate litigation and Santa Clara estate litigation. Southern California families facing these battles can explore Glendale estate litigation resources as well.

Case Pattern: A beneficiary in California discovered that the trustee had stopped providing accountings and appeared to be using trust assets for personal expenses. After litigation commenced and formal discovery was pursued, the trustee was removed and significant assets were recovered for the rightful beneficiaries.

When trustees fail to respond to legitimate requests, understanding your rights to compel an accounting is critical. Our blog on trustee accountability and compel accounting explains what beneficiaries can do.

Contingency Fees: Access to Justice Without Upfront Costs

One of the most important things I tell prospective clients is this: the cost of hiring a lawyer should not be another barrier when you are already facing a crisis. That is why Hackard Law offers contingency fee representation for qualified cases. You pay nothing upfront. If we do not recover for you, you owe us nothing.

This model matters because it levels the playing field. Insurance companies and opposing parties often have significant resources. A contingency fee arrangement means your attorney has every incentive to fight hard and win – because our outcome is tied directly to yours. For a deeper look at how this works in trust and estate cases, our guide on contingency fee representation walks through the details.

Key Definitions

Contingency fee: A legal fee arrangement where the attorney is paid only if the client recovers money, typically as a percentage of the recovery.
Wrongful death: A lawsuit filed by surviving family members when someone passes away as a result of the carelessness or deliberate actions of another person.
Personal injury: A legal claim arising from physical or emotional harm caused by another party’s negligence or wrongful conduct.
Trust litigation: Court proceedings involving disputes over the administration, validity, or distribution of a trust.
Trustee: The person or institution responsible for managing trust assets according to the trust document and California law.
Beneficiary: A person entitled to receive assets or income from a trust or estate.
Elder financial abuse: The illegal or improper use of an elder’s funds, property, or assets, often by someone in a position of trust.
Probate: The court-supervised process of validating a will and distributing a deceased person’s estate.
Undue influence: Pressure or manipulation that overrides a person’s free will, often used to change estate documents in favor of the manipulator.
Will contest: A legal challenge to the validity of a will, typically based on lack of capacity, fraud, or undue influence.

What to Do Next

Look for an attorney who handles your specific type of case – personal injury, wrongful death, and trust litigation each require different skills.
Get copies of all relevant documents as soon as possible, including accident reports, medical records, trust documents, and any correspondence.
Try to avoid signing anything from an insurance company or opposing party before speaking with an attorney.
Write down everything you remember about the incident or dispute while details are fresh.
Look into whether the attorney offers contingency fee representation so you understand your financial exposure before signing any agreement.
Avoid waiting too long since California has statutes of limitations that can prevent you from filing a claim.
Reach out to family members who may have witnessed relevant events and ask them to preserve any records or communications.
Call Hackard Law at (916) 313-3030 to speak with our team about your situation.
To schedule a free online consultation, go to our contact page.