Conservatorship Status Review Calendar

To Join Department 63 “Zoom” Online

• Navigate to website: https://sonomacourt-org.zoomgov.com/j/1603772262
• Enter Meeting ID: 160 377 2262
• And Password: 419097

To Join Department 63 “Zoom” By Phone:

• Call: +1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose) and enter same meeting ID and password as listed above.

Guide for Participating in Court Proceedings via Zoom for Dept 63:

• After joining the meeting and checking in with the clerk, please mute your audio when not speaking. This helps keep background noise to a minimum.
• Be mindful of background noise when your microphone is not muted. Avoid activities that could create additional noise, such as shuffling papers.
• Position your camera properly if you choose to use a web camera. Be sure it is in a stable position and focused at eye level, if possible. Make sure everything visible in the frame is appropriate for an appearance in court.
• If a confidential session becomes necessary it is incumbent on you to ensure you are able to participate from a private location so that unauthorized people cannot overhear or see the proceedings.
• Chat is enabled for the sharing of documents among participants and the court and to allow attorneys to communicate individually with each other or their clients only. No chat messages should be sent privately to the court as it would amount to an unauthorized ex parte communication. Neither should chat messages be sent to all participants unless directed by the court.
• The recording function has been disabled. Remember, the prohibition against recording court proceedings, even remote ones, remains.
• Be patient. Check in will take more time and the experience from those who have tried this before is that proceedings are a little slower generally.

1. Conservatorship of Mimi Goode
   SPR87032
   Termination of Conservatorship

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Due to the death of the conservatee, the Conservatorship of the Person of Mimi Goode TERMINATED by operation of law, pursuant to Probate Code section 1860(a). 

A final accounting is waived. The conservator of the estate is discharged.

The case is DISMISSED.

2. Conservatorship of John Turner Downing
   SPR87608
   Termination of Conservatorship

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Due to the death of the conservatee, the Conservatorship of the Person of John Turner Downing TERMINATED by operation of law, pursuant to Probate Code section 1860(a). 

A final accounting is waived. The conservator of the estate is discharged.

The case is DISMISSED.

3. Conservatorship of Christine Y. Tenter
   SPR096300
   Review

Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The conservator should be prepared to discuss with the Court the outstanding issues detailed in the Report of Court Investigator, filed on August 25, 2026.  The Court appoints the Public Defender as counsel for the conservatee.  After discussion with the conservator, the Court intends to continue this hearing to allow time for the conservator to work on preparing an accounting and to file an inventory and appraisal, notice of conservatee’s rights and a determination of conservatee’s appropriate level of care.  In doing so, the Court would also like to provide sufficient opportunity for conservatee’s counsel to review the documents prior to the next hearing and, as needed, meet with conservatee.  The Court does not anticipate the Public Defender will have met with their client prior to this hearing.

The Court regrets that this matter was dropped from calendar in 2022, when a further hearing should have been set to ensure compliance with the many requirements set by State law when a court puts one person in charge of the affairs of another person, and the fact that no annual investigative visits were conducted thereafter.  The type of situation presented by this case is the very reason this Court developed the review project to address existing conservatorship cases in an unreviewed status.  A lay person trying to navigate the conservatorship process faces a steep learning curve in this regard and the Court generally tries to partner with the conservator to ensure compliance through education and an opportunity to address the requirements, sometimes following multiple continuances.  That did not happen in this case.  Nor, despite the fact there is counsel of record, who remains legally responsible to his client, was there progress in the absence of Court oversight.  The Court intends to engage in that effort now, and so long as the conservator indicates a willingness to meet her obligations, the Court anticipates a collaborative process.

Counsel for the conservator is also required to attend the hearing.

***End of Tentative Ruling***

None.