Rodney Hatley

Rodney Hatley is the founding attorney and principal of Hatley Law Group, A P.C., in San Diego, California, where he focuses exclusively on estate planning, probate administration and tax matters. His decision to focus on these fields was driven by firsthand experience with his father’s protracted, seven-year probate proceeding – an ordeal that underscored for him the devastating impact of high taxes, administrative delays and legal costs on family wealth.

Mr. Hatley began his legal career in personal injury litigation before accepting a commission with the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Over six years of active duty, he served as both a criminal defense counsel and a legal assistance attorney, then as a staff judge advocate and special assistant U.S. attorney. In recognition of his service, he received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal twice.

After leaving active duty, Mr. Hatley pursued advanced tax studies at the University of San Diego School of Law, earning a Master of Laws in taxation from its esteemed graduate program. He then transitioned into estate planning, trust administration and probate law – equipping families to protect and transfer their assets efficiently and cost-effectively. Admitted to practice in California (since 1992) and Tennessee (since 1987), he is also licensed in: 

• The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
• The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
• The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
• The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
• The U.S. Tax Court
• The U.S. Supreme Court

Mr. Hatley holds a J.D., earned in 1986 from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and a B.A. in political science, awarded in 1983 by Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. His combination of military, litigation, and specialized tax training positions him to deliver comprehensive, strategic guidance to individuals and families at every stage of estate planning and administration.