About Thomas K Hackbart

I have practiced Probate Law, Guardianship Law and have advised clients regarding simple Estate Planning for over 40 years. Let me tell you about my background, so that you, the prospective client, know a bit more about me before you contact me. I believe in keeping things as simple as possible, and I always have a habit of discussing all possible alternatives with my clients before giving my advice or opinions.  Yet how did I end up in Law School?  What is my educational background?  What have I done the last 40 years or more after I graduated from Marquette Law School?  Well, let me tell you…
I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and grew up in Cudahy, Wisconsin.  My entire family was hard working, and I was raised in a traditional “blue collar” family.  I lived in the home that my grandfather built, with my grandparents and aunt living downstairs, and my parents and I living above.  Both sets of my grandparents emigrated from Europe when they were young, became citizens of this country and worked very hard at their jobs.  Three of my four grandparents worked many years for the Patrick Cudahy meat packing plant, from which they retired. My father worked as a tool and die maker and my mother worked as an executive secretary.  Although I grew up in a “blue collar” family, my parents sacrificed whatever they could so that I had the best clothing, books and education.
I attended the public schools in Cudahy, and graduated from Cudahy High School.  I attended Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where I received a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in both History and Political Science, and minoring in Business Administration. I then moved on to attend Marquette University Law School, and graduated in May of 1977.  I was sworn in as a member of the Wisconsin Bar the next day, and have remained a practicing attorney ever since.
I worked for two years at the law firm of Seher and Seher in Milwaukee, said firm specializing in Probate, Estate Planning and Income Taxation. In October of 1979, I started my own individual law practice in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, where I concentrated in Probate law and Estate Planning. In January of 1982, two other attorneys and I began the law firm of Cross, Hackbart and Groh, on Bluemound Road, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After adding and subtracting a couple of other partners over the years, the firm dissolved in 1995. At that point in time, I remained at the same location in Milwaukee, and became a sole practitioner once again.  I ran the entire office and leased space and services to several attorneys who all had their own individual practices.  In June of 2013, I closed the law office on Bluemound Road after thirty years at that location, and moved my law practice to my present location in South Milwaukee. I am in an excellent location and am much closer to the working families and clientele that I presently advise and serve.
What other interests do I have other than practicing law?  I have played the Saxophone since I was eight years old and am a semi-professional musician.  Around 1990, I took jazz lessons and jazz combo classes for three years at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.  I presently play in an award-winning popular Milwaukee swing band and have done so since its inception 23 years ago.  I also play in an excellent local symphonic band and in a saxophone quartet. I am an avid golfer, and try to play at least twice a week when the weather permits. I am a strong Milwaukee Brewer fan and have a partial season ticket package.  I attended the very first Brewer home game in 1970, as well as the last Brewer home game in 2017. I also am a Packer and a Bucks fan as well.  You can always ask my opinions about baseball or football, and I will always give them to you.  Like most attorneys, I am an avid reader and enjoy history, particularly early American history, Russian history and twentieth century European history. Lawn care and gardening is also a passion of mine.