Thomas Arthur Hackett

PRO

Thomas Arthur Hackett

5.0
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 15 years

Estate planning Lawyer at Vancouver, WA
Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Probate, Wills & Living Wills, Trusts

1003 Officers Row, Vancouver, WA

Virtual Consultation Available

About Thomas

Biography

We help families with estate planning (think wills and trusts) and with probate (the details after a person dies).

Practice Areas

4

Practice Areas

Estate Planning 40%

17 years

40%
Probate 40%

17 years

40%
Trusts 10%

10%
Wills and Living Wills 10%

10%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Hourly Rates

$ 125-495 per hour


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Awards

Client's Choice
Client's Choice
2016

Licenses

Licensed in Washington for 14 years

State: Washington

Acquired: 2011

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in Oregon for 15 years

State: Oregon

Acquired: 2010

Active

No misconduct found

Location

NW Legacy Law, P.S.

1003 Officers Row, Vancouver, WA, 98661

nwlegacylaw.com

NW Legacy Law, P.S.

650 N.E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232

nwlegacylaw.com

Online Presence

Other places you can find Thomas online.

Thomas Arthur Hackett's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

15 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (15) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews | Communication Style

Posted by Jane | May 16, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Probate

Outstanding Lawyer!

I was an out-of-state client of Thomas Hackett’s who chose the NW Legacy Law firm to represent me after I’d read in The Columbian online newspaper about their successfully getting justice for an elderly woman whose guardian had embezzled from her. I was also convinced by the fact that the firm consis...tently has won top ratings from the Vancouver–SW Washington Business Journal, Avvo Rating, and The Columbian’s Best of Clark County. The firm’s web site was also a positive indication of the high level of skill the firm has with computerized litigation support – an important factor to the effectiveness of the representation of an out-of-state client. I experienced the highest quality of care and legal expertise from Thomas Hackett. I was an out-of-state heir and the lawyer handling my parent’s complex estate had given me a short deadline (3 weeks) to approve a vague, overly-generalized Inventory and an opaque Declaration of Completion. Thomas Hackett and his excellent legal team went above and beyond to meet the time challenge well before the deadline. Thomas quickly analyzed and synthesized the large volume of background information and evidence I’d e-mailed to him. He made efficient use of our phone consultation time in which he clearly explained the significance of the Declaration of Completion and Inventory, and patiently walked me through the steps of the legal options available if I could not obtain satisfactory information from the executor of my parent’s estate. I wanted to avoid a court battle, therefore, Thomas Hackett gave me wise and effective counsel about how to avoid miscommunication with the executor. Thanks to Thomas Hackett’s knowledgeable, clear and compassionate counsel I succeeded to get the information I needed from the executor that made it possible for me to approve the Declaration of Completion in good conscience. I highly recommend Thomas Hackett and his firm, NW Legacy Law, to anyone seeking the best legal representation.

Posted by Greg | September 30, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Wills & Living Wills

Northwest Legacy Law Center review

Thomas Hackett came highly recommended and I can certainly see why. I was afraid of the whole process of drawing up my will but everyone in his office was so helpful every step of the way. Considering how much they did for us the cost was certainly worth it. Thomas is very knowledgeable and a grea...t listener and understood our needs perfectly. Caitlyn really went the extra mile for us explaining everything so well. Lucy in the office is terrific and explained the various options and pricings so there were no surprises. We were made to feel so welcome and as Lucy said, we are now part of their family. I'm very happy I made this choice and would recommend him to anyone.

Posted by Lindsey | August 25, 2016 | Estate Planning

Wonderful legal team!

Thomas is a highly knowledgable and personable attorney. After speaking with several area lawyers, I was immediately impressed by the quality of customer service provided by NW Legacy Law. Jessica, Thomas' legal aid, was incredibly understanding in our initial conversation and followed along a pretty... complicated situation with ease. When speaking with Thomas, he discussed possible next steps as well as issues to consider in a way that was easy to understand. I highly recommend!

See All Client Reviews

Thomas Arthur Hackett's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Thomas
Lewis Irwin Landerholm headshot
Lewis Landerholm

Estate planning lawyer | May 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Thomas and his team are exceptional. I will continue to refer my clients to him because I know they will take great care of them. I would highly recommend calling them when you are in need of a comprehensive estate plan."

Neil Juneja headshot
Neil Juneja

Business lawyer | Mar 24

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I have worked with Thomas in numerous matters and found is expertise and superior grasp of the subject matter to be both refreshing and a inspiring."

Jakob Oscar Seegmuller headshot
Jakob Seegmuller

Estate planning lawyer | Jan 27

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I'm fortunate to have the opportunity to work for and with Thomas on Estate Planning and Settlement matters. He has an exceptional grasp of complex estate planning techniques and a commitment to clients not often seen."

Rahul Aggarwal headshot
Rahul Aggarwal

Unknown lawyer | Mar 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Thomas Michael Fafinski headshot
Thomas Fafinski

Estate planning lawyer | Jul 14

Relationship: Other

"I endorse Thomas enthusiastically for his personable and knowledgeable approach with his clients. He is earnest, concise, and thorough when it comes to learning about his clients’ concerns and needs which he utilizes to ensure a customized business contract or estate plan."

Mark Sampath headshot
Mark Sampath

Estate planning lawyer | Jan 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Kathryn M. Woods headshot
Kathryn Woods

Unknown lawyer | Oct 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Susan Marie Hunter headshot
Susan Hunter

Estate planning lawyer | Feb 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have had the pleasure of collaborating with Thomas Hackett in many facets of our professional relationship – and know him to be an honest and skilled estate planning and asset protection attorney. Thomas genuinely cares about his client families and will go the extra mile to ensure that their needs are met and goals achieved. Thomas is an asset to the profession and I am honored to work with him."

Joseph L Morton III headshot
Joseph Morton

Estate planning lawyer | Nov 04

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Thomas. He and I both belong to an estate planning organization and have evaluated several cases together. I highly recommend him."

Ginger S Skinner headshot
Ginger Skinner

Business lawyer | Sep 25

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Thomas is a personable attorney who is genuinely committed to meeting the needs of his clients."

Alexander Fleming Freeburg headshot
Alexander Freeburg

Estate planning lawyer | Mar 01

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Thomas is the go-to guy for a young family putting together their estate plan. He is also the go-to guy for anyone putting together their estate plan, or for that matter, anyone who is carefully considering a business law issue and wants to wrap their head around possible tax consequences. Thomas is a versatile, expert legal problem solver. And he's a pretty good skier too."

William J Pigott headshot
William Pigott

Estate planning lawyer | Feb 22

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I'm a patent attorney in the Northwest and have known Thomas for a number of years. When dealing with tax, estate, and business law, I trust and recommend Thomas' expertise. Some people manage finances and businesses for their jobs; Thomas does it because he loves it. Creative, practical, and smart solutions come from people who truly care about what they're doing; Thomas delivers just that."

Nicholas Dmitri Brauns headshot
Nicholas Brauns

Business lawyer | Dec 31

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I'm a lawyer down in San Diego. I have known Thomas since middle school, and have always had a very high opinion of his work ethic and ability to chop complex issues into small, bite-sized peices that anyone can understand. When my father was involved in a partnership dispute up in Vancouver, I did not hesitate to contact Thomas. Thomas understood the legal and business issues, but also understood the emotional component and did a great job hand-holding my father through resolution of the discpute. I would not hesitate to recommend Thomas to my family a second time, which is the highest recommendation I am able to give."

Jeff Staples headshot
Jeff Staples

Unknown lawyer | Oct 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I've known Thomas for a long time and I would be very comfortable hiring him if I had a legal issue in his practice area or referring my friends and family to him."

Jill Huebschman Sasser headshot
Jill Sasser

Business lawyer | Jun 03

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Thomas is an excellent attorney who cares about the legal needs of our business community."

Christopher Michael Brooks headshot
Christopher Brooks

Estate planning lawyer | May 13

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have had the pleasure of knowing Thomas for a couple years. He is very knowledgeable as to all estate planning, tax and estate administration issues. Even though I focus my practice in the same area, I consider Thomas to be a valuable resource when I encounter a question I can’t answer. He’s also very personable. Thomas does a wonderful job of not just looking at assets, but also at values, and incorporating all of a client’s wishes into an estate plan."

View All Endorsements
Steven Erik Turner headshot
Steven Turner

Litigation lawyer

David Paul Huffman headshot
David Huffman

Criminal defense lawyer

Neil Juneja headshot
Neil Juneja

Business lawyer

Lewis Irwin Landerholm headshot
Lewis Landerholm

Family lawyer

David A Schuck headshot
David Schuck

Employment and labor lawyer

Susan Marie Hunter headshot
Susan Hunter

Elder law lawyer

Joseph L Morton III headshot
Joseph Morton

Estate planning lawyer

Joel Daniel Emans headshot
Joel Emans

Internet lawyer

William J Pigott headshot
William Pigott

Intellectual property lawyer

Alexander Fleming Freeburg headshot
Alexander Freeburg

Criminal defense lawyer

Jill Huebschman Sasser headshot
Jill Sasser

Probate lawyer

Jovita T Wang headshot
Jovita Wang

Litigation lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2024

Finalist, Best of Clark County - Law Firm, The Columbian

2023

2023 Best in Business Award - Law Firm, Vancouver Business Journal

2022

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2022

2022 Best in Business Award - Law Firm, Vancouver Business Journal

2021

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2021

2021 Best in Business Award - Law Firm, Vancouver Business Journal

2020

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2020

2020 Best in Business Award - Law Firm, Vancouver Business Journal

2019

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2019

2019 Best in Business Award - Law Firm, Vancouver Business Journal

2018

2018 Best in Business Award - Law Firm, Vancouver Business Journal

2018

Outstanding Client Service for 2018, WeathCounsel PeerGroup

2018

Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2017

2017 Best in Business Award - Law Firm, Vancouver Business Journal

2017

Attendance, WealthCounsel Symposium

2016

Attendance, WealthCounsel Symposium

2016

Client's Choice Award, AVVO

2016

2016 Best in Business Award - Law Firm, Vancouver Business Journal

2015

2015 Best in Business Award - Law Firm, Vancouver Business Journal

2015

Accomplished & Under 40, Vancouver Business Journal

2015

2015 Start-Up of the Year, Business Growth Awards, Vancouver Business Journal

2015

2015 Best of Clark County: Attorney, The Columbian

2014

2014 Best in Business Award - Law Firm, Vancouver Business Journal

2009

Honors in Law, University of Washington School of Law

2007

Robert Dodge Scholar, University of Washington School of Law

2007

Semi-Finalist, 1L Mock Trial Competition, Moot Court Honor Board, University of Washington Law School of Law

2001

Campion Scholar, Seattle University

1995

Newspaper Carrier of the Year, The Columbian

Work Experience

2014 - Present

President, Attorney, NW Legacy Law, P.S.

2013 - 2014

Attorney, Sussman Shank LLP

2012 - 2013

Attorney, Head of Estate Planning Group, Horenstein Law Group PLLC

2010 - 2011

Tax Attorney, HS Law Firm, P.C.

2009 - 2009

Summer Law Clerk, Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP

2008 - 2008

Judicial Extern, Supreme Court, Washington State

Associations

2017 - Present

WealthCounsel PeerGroup

Mentor, Member

2015 - Present

WealthCounsel

Member

2015 - Present

ElderCounsel

Member

2012 - Present

Washington State Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Section

Member

2011 - Present

Washington State Bar Association

Member

2011 - Present

Clark County Bar Association

Member

2010 - Present

Oregon State Bar

Member

2010 - Present

Oregon State Bar, Taxation Section

Member

2010 - Present

Oregon State Bar, Estate Planning and Administration Section

Member

2010 - Present

Multnomah Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section

Member

2010 - Present

Multnomah Bar Association

Member

2013 - 2017

Vancouver Farmers Market, Board of Directors

President

2008 - 2009

Washington Journal of Law, Technology & Arts

Articles Editor

Sample of Legal Cases

In the Matter of the S**** Trust

Appointment of new trustee.

Dessert Manufacturer Sale

Sale of Company

Entity Restructuring

Purchase of Private Business

Signed, sealed, and delivered.

Estate Planning for Parents of Minor Children

Plan in place. Peace of mind for family.

Redemption of Ownership in Private Business

Stock redeemed, former-owner now consulting.

Transfer of Business Assets

Significant tax savings, protection of assets from creditors.

Probate

Assets gathered, creditors paid, inheritances distributed, and matter closed.

See More Legal Cases

Education

2009

University of Washington School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

2003

Seattle University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

2002

London School of Economics and Political Science

Summer Program

N/A

Clark Community College

Speaking Engagements

2016

Oregon Paralegal Association

How Property Transfers at Death and Related Estate Planning Techniques

2015

Public Workshop Series Estate Planning Essentials

2015

Public Workshop

10 Threats That Could Cost Your Family a Fortune - and Their Solutions

2014

Public Event

7 Threats to Your Estate Plan

2014

Private Client Event

4 Threats to Your Estate Plan

2014

Estate Administration Procedures: Why Each Step Is Important Foundations of Estate Administration

2013

Private Event

Trusts 101: They're Not Just for the 1%

2013

Employer Wellness Series

Estate Planning Fundamentals

2012

New Parent Education

Estate Planning for New Parents

2011

Spring Tax Law Series

Tax Considerations in Choice of Entity Selection

Publications

2016

NW Legacy Law Center, P.S. Blog Why I’m Not the Lawyer for You

2015

Vancouver Business Journal "Up Close" Interview

2015

2015

NW Legacy Law Center, P.S. Blog The Benefits of Using a Trust in Estate Planning

2014

Daily Journal of Commerce Oregon The importance of an inheritance trust

2013

Horenstein Law Group Blog New Simplified Option for Claiming Home Office Deduction

2012

Horenstein Law Group Blog Why Co-Trustees or Co-Personal Representatives Are a Bad Idea

2009

Washington Journal of Law, Technology & Arts Issues Where Vernor v. Autodesk Fits Into First Sale Decisions

Languages

English

Activity

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