Complex Issues in California Family Law - Volume I

Comm. Patti Ratekin (Ret.) has been a mediator, arbitrator, Privately-Compensated Temporary Judge, Parenting Plan Coordinator, Discovery Referee, and Special Master with Signature Resolution since 2022. Before that, Commissioner Ratekin was an attorney in private practice, specializing in Family Law and was a Certified Family Law Specialist for 13 years handling complex litigation. During this time she also served as minor’s counsel. In June 2007 she was appointed as a Family Court Commissioner for the San Diego Superior Court of San Diego. During her time on the bench she served on the Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER) Curriculum Committee and served as an instructor and materials contributor. She served on the Superior Court Family Law Policy Committee.

She is the recipient of the Norby Award, Attorney of the Year, Judicial Officer of the Year, and Judicial Officer of the Decade, a lifetime achievement award from the San Diego Family Law Bar Association.

She received the Distinguished Jurist Award for the Southern Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Hon. Margo Lewis Hoy (Ret.) joined Signature Resolution after 18 years of private practice and 11 years on the San Diego Superior Court. Known for her approachable demeanor, Judge Hoy mediates disputes concerning all areas of family law.

As a Superior Court judge, Judge Hoy served as the supervising judge of the family law division and oversaw 26 family law departments. To better serve parents and children, she pioneered the use of child custody parenting plans in the San Diego Superior Court. She also served on the court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee and chaired its Family Law Policy Committee.

Before being appointed to the bench, Judge Hoy founded the premier family law practice in San Diego County and handled thousands of complex cases involving child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, and more. She was certified as a Family Law Specialist in 2000.

Judge Hoy has been honored by legal organizations throughout California, including multiple Judicial Officer of the Year awards and inclusion in the Top 25 Women Lawyers in San Diego.