Hackard Law: California Estate, Trust & Catastrophic Injury Firm Families Trust

Publication Date April 30, 2026 in Estate Litigation

Who Is Hackard Law?

I’m Michael Hackard, founder of Hackard Law. Over five decades of law practice, I have had one guiding goal: to build a plaintiff’s estate, trust, and catastrophic injury firm that my own family would be proud to hire. That standard shapes every case we take, every client we serve, and every courtroom we enter.

Families across California come to us when the stakes are highest. We serve clients throughout Sacramento and Northern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Los Angeles. They hire us because they have seen our leadership, our commitment to clients, and our record of legal excellence. I have authored four published books on inheritance protection, and our firm has produced more than 1,000 educational videos that have reached over seven million viewers. Results matter. Reputation matters. There is only one Hackard Law.

Hackard Law provides contingency fee representation for qualified estate, trust, and catastrophic injury cases – meaning no upfront costs to you. To find out whether your case qualifies, call us today at (916) 313-3030.

Quick Summary

Hackard Law is a California plaintiff’s firm that specializes in estate and trust litigation as well as catastrophic injury cases. It serves families in need of knowledgeable, effective legal counsel.

Hackard Law serves clients in Sacramento, the Bay Area, and Los Angeles.
The firm takes cases on a contingency fee basis for qualified clients – no upfront payment required.
Michael Hackard brings five decades of practice, four published books, and a deep record of client results.
The firm litigates estate disputes, trust contests, beneficiary rights violations, and serious personal injury claims.
Families hire Hackard Law when they need a firm that fights – not one that settles for less than they deserve.

A Firm Built on One Standard

Most law firms are built around practice efficiency. Hackard Law was built around a different question: would my own family hire this firm? That question has never left the room. It shapes how we evaluate cases, how we communicate with clients, and how hard we push when the other side resists.

I have witnessed the consequences of families facing an estate dispute without adequate representation for more than 50 years. Assets vanish. Documents are changed. Distributions are delayed for no apparent reason. Unless someone stands up for them, heirs, beneficiaries, and victims of elder abuse are left without answers or recourse.

Hackard Law fights for them. Our Sacramento estate lawyer practice is built on that promise.

Estate and Trust Litigation: What We Handle

Estate and trust disputes are among the most financially and emotionally consequential legal battles a family can face. A parent’s life savings, a family home, a business built over generations – all of it can be at risk when a trustee acts improperly, a will is contested, or undue influence corrupts an estate plan.

Hackard Law litigates the full range of these disputes. That includes contested wills and trusts in Sacramento, trustee misconduct, beneficiary rights violations, elder financial abuse, and fraudulent transfers. We also handle probate litigation across Sacramento County and throughout California.

Understanding the stages of a trust or estate dispute matters. Families who know what to expect are better prepared to make decisions. Our overview of the 8 stages of trust and estate litigation walks through the process from initial dispute to final resolution.

Case Pattern: A family member serving as successor trustee began delaying distributions for months, offering vague explanations and no accounting. Beneficiaries had no idea whether assets remained in the trust. Litigation compelled a full accounting and ultimately restored distributions that had been improperly withheld.

Catastrophic Injury Cases

Beyond estate and trust litigation, Hackard Law represents clients in catastrophic injury cases – situations where a serious accident or trauma has permanently changed a person’s life. These cases demand the same commitment to results that defines our estate practice.

Catastrophic injuries carry consequences that go far beyond medical bills. The financial toll grows over time, and the effects on a family can run deeper than any settlement can fully address. That is why we approach every injury case with the same thoroughness we bring to a contested trust.

Serving Families Across California

Hackard Law is not a single-city firm. We serve families throughout California – from Sacramento and Northern California communities to the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Each region has its own courts, its own probate culture, and its own legal landscape. Our attorneys know those differences and use them to our clients’ advantage.

For families in Los Angeles facing estate or trust disputes, our Los Angeles estate litigation practice brings the same standard of representation we apply in every case. Families who want to understand their options in a contested matter can also review our guide on how to choose the right probate lawyer before making any decisions.

Case Pattern: The trustee informed a beneficiary in a multi-county estate dispute that no distributions would be made until all family members agreed—a position with no legal foundation. The trustee’s duties were made clear by litigation, which also required timely distribution in accordance with the terms of the trust.

Contingency Fees: Representation Without Upfront Costs

One of the most common reasons families do not pursue legitimate estate or trust claims is cost. They assume litigation is unaffordable. Hackard Law’s contingency fee model removes that barrier for qualified cases.

Under a contingency arrangement, clients pay no attorney fees unless we recover on their behalf. This structure aligns our interests with theirs – we succeed when they succeed. For families trying to understand how contingency representation works in trust and estate cases, our detailed contingency fee guide for California estate and trust litigation explains the process clearly.

For Sacramento County families navigating probate disputes, our Sacramento County probate litigation practice handles the full range of contested matters on this basis.

Key Definitions

Contingency fee: An arrangement where attorney fees are paid only if the client recovers money, with no upfront cost to the client.
Trust litigation: Legal proceedings to resolve disputes over the administration, validity, or terms of a trust.
Beneficiary: A person named to receive assets from a trust, will, or estate.
Trustee: The individual or institution responsible for managing and distributing trust assets according to the trust’s terms.
Will contest: A legal challenge to the validity of a will, often based on undue influence, lack of capacity, or fraud.
Probate: The court-supervised process of validating a will and administering a deceased person’s estate.
Elder financial abuse: The illegal or improper use of an older adult’s funds, property, or assets.
Fraudulent transfer: The movement of assets for the purpose of avoiding creditors or depriving rightful heirs and beneficiaries.
Catastrophic injury: A severe physical injury – such as traumatic brain injury or spinal damage – that results in long-term or permanent disability.
Undue influence: Pressure or manipulation that overrides a person’s free will in making estate planning decisions.

What to Do Next

Look for signs that a trustee is delaying distributions, refusing to provide accountings, or acting in their own interest rather than the trust’s – these are grounds for action.
Get copies of any trust documents, wills, or estate planning records you have access to before consulting an attorney.
Look into what California beneficiaries can do when a trustee delays distributions to understand your rights.
Review the most common probate, trust, and estate battles to see whether your situation fits a recognized pattern.
Try to avoid making financial decisions or signing documents while a dispute is unresolved – consult an attorney first.
Document any conversations, transactions, or changes in an elder family member’s estate plan that seem unusual or sudden.
Reach out to Hackard Law through our contact page to start a confidential consultation.
Call Hackard Law at (916) 313-3030 to speak directly with our team about your situation.