Fair Inheritance Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Hackard Law

Introduction
Hackard Law is pleased to introduce the Fair Inheritance Scholarship, a new award inviting students across the country to engage with the complexities of inheritance and estate disputes. We encourage applicants to consider how fairness should guide the division of assets, how courts should respond to contested or problematic wills, and how the law can better reflect the human issues that underlie estate conflicts. Our firm hopes this scholarship will help reduce financial barriers and support students in pursuing their academic goals.

Application window
We will accept applications through May 31, 2026. The scholarship recipient will be selected during the month following the deadline.

Who may apply (Eligibility)
- Open to U.S. legal residents currently living in the United States.
- Available to high school seniors, vocational students, undergraduate and graduate students, and all students enrolled in higher education who plan to be enrolled for the Fall 2026 semester.
- Applicants must be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Employees of Hackard Law, as well as their family members and anyone in their household, are ineligible.
- Preference will be given to students who are from or attending secondary school in the state.

Application requirements
To be considered, applicants must submit the following:
1. A completed application form with all requested information.
2. A 750–1,000 word essay addressing this prompt:
Disputes over inheritance often reflect a deeper question: What does fairness mean? In estate litigation, fairness can clash with legal formalities, unequal family relationships, or dated documents. Discuss whether assets in an estate should be divided equally among heirs or allocated based on need or contribution. How should courts evaluate wills that may indicate favoritism, coercion, or diminished capacity? Offer your view on how the legal system can better accommodate the human complexities present in estate disputes.
- All essays will be screened for AI-generated content. Any application found to contain AI-written material will be disqualified.
3. A professional résumé outlining academic and professional experience.
4. A transcript from the applicant’s current school. First-year college students, graduate students, and recent transfers may submit an unofficial current transcript plus the most recent official transcript from their previous institution. High school applicants may provide proof of acceptance to a post-secondary institution.

Selection and notification
The recipient will be chosen during the month after the application period closes. Applicants should ensure all required materials are submitted by May 31, 2026 to be considered.

We look forward to thoughtful submissions from students who care about fairness in inheritance and estate law.