America's "Great Wealth Transfer" contains the promise of inheritance - over $50 trillion in assets for our children and grandchildren - but also hidden peril. Inheritance heists are a real threat to seniors and their families. As the Baby Boomer generation enters its twilight years, the opportunities for elder financial exploitation only grow. It's easy to overlook the danger that a lifetime of hard work, a family's entire legacy, can be hijacked by thieves who are close to the assets during transfer. Oftentimes the thief is a family member or caregiver.
In Inheritance Heists, veteran California attorney Michael Hackard shares his five decades of experience to pinpoint the red flags that heighten an estate's vulnerability to unlawful appropriation, from cognitive decline and stepparent dynamics to the rapidly evolving landscape of digital assets. Just as critically, Hackard provides the best safeguards and legal strategies to help you stop an inheritance heist before it's too late.
About the Author :
Michael Hackard is the founder of Hackard Law, a California law firm focused on estate and trust litigation. As an attorney with nearly 50 years of experience and author of The Wolf at the Door: Undue Influence and Elder Financial Abuse, he has dedicated much of his practice to representing victims of elder financial exploitation, disinherited heirs, and trust beneficiaries. He is regularly interviewed by local and national media, including the Wall Street Journal, C-SPAN, and Fox News, and has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives.
Review :
"As a trust and estate litigator and partner at Trust Law Partners, I've
spent over two decades navigating complex inheritance disputes. Yet
Michael Hackard's 'Inheritance Heists' offers fresh insights even for
seasoned practitioners. Drawing from five decades in the field,
Hackard masterfully dissects contemporary challenges - from care-
giver exploitation to cryptocurrency theft - while providing practical
solutions. His innovative analysis of contingency fee arrangements is
particularly valuable. What sets this work apart is Hackard's deep
understanding of both the legal and emotional dynamics of inheritance
disputes. An essential resource for anyone practicing in California's
estate litigation landscape."
Jeff Loew, Partner, Trust Law Partners, California
"I serve the court in matters of estate and civil litigation when acts of
fraud, waste, and undue influence are so egregious it rises to the neces-
sity to have an independent fiduciary take full possession and control
of assets, including real property, investment accounts, and businesses.
My role is sometimes referred to as the "nuclear option" to protect and
preserve the Estate until the litigation is resolved. In my world, every-
thing that can go wrong does go wrong. That is why I implore people
to take notice and learn from the real examples and exceptionally
knowledgeable advice Mike shares in this book. I have worked with
Mike on litigation matters over the years and what I most appreciate is
Hackard Law offers people who cannot afford to hire legal services an
opportunity to pursue their equitable rights to receive what was
denied to them by bad actors with skilled and effective practices in
law."
Daniel Collins, Court Appointed Receiver, Collins Commercial
"Inheritance Heists by Michael Hackard explores the complex world of
estate and trust litigation. The book reveals how family legacies can be
undermined by manipulation, undue influence, and deception.
Hackard, a veteran attorney, uses real-world case studies to expose
inheritance challenges, including trust distribution disasters, caregiver
exploitation, and family conflicts. The book introduces Hackard Law's
innovative contingency fee model, which expands access to justice for
families fighting inheritance injustices. By examining biblical principles
of truthfulness and ethical behavior, Hackard provides practical strate-
gies to families and professionals for preventing and resolving inheri-
tance disputes, emphasizing the importance of communication,
transparency, and protecting family legacies. As an example, I have
seen the calming effect I can bring to contentious family dynamics
because I am an independent third party fiduciary with no involve-
ment in the family history or drama."
John DePiazza, Fiduciary, AD Fiduciary
