Conservatorships
If the tentative ruling does not require appearances, and is accepted, no appearance is necessary.
Any party who wishes to be heard in response or opposition to the Court’s tentative ruling MUST NOTIFY the Court’s Judicial Assistant by telephone at (707) 521-6893 and MUST NOTIFY all other parties of the intent to appear, and whether they will appear in person or by Zoom. Both notifications must be completed no later than 4:00 p.m. on the court (business) day immediately before the day of the hearing.
Unless notification of an appearance has been given as provided above, the tentative ruling shall become the ruling of the court the day of the hearing at the beginning of the calendar, absent an objection from an interested party per Probate Code section 1043.
To Access the Probate Examiner Notes:
- Access the Portal
- Accept the Terms
- Choose Smart Search, insert your case number, and follow all instructions.
To Join Department 12 “Zoom” Online
- Navigate to website: https://sonomacourt-org.zoomgov.com/j/1603772262
- Enter Meeting ID: 160 377 2262
- And Password: 419097
To Join Department 12 “Zoom” By Phone:
- Call: +1 669-254-5252 US (San Jose) and enter the same meeting ID and password as listed above.
Guide for Participating in Court Proceedings via Zoom for Dept 12:
- 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.
Tentative Rulings
Honorable Jeanine B. Nadel on behalf of Honorable Jennifer V. Dollard
March 27, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.
- Conservatorship of Sidney S. Scherer
25PR01192
Account & Report
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Absent objection, the First and Final Account of Temporary Conservator is APPROVED as prayed.
The temporary conservator is directed to pay the court investigator assessment of $600.00 within 30 days, payable to the Sonoma County Superior Court, in care of the Probate Division. Please include the case number and name of the conservatorship.
Upon the payment of the investigator assessment, the temporary conservator is discharged, bond is terminated and discharged, and the temporary conservatorship of the estate is terminated.
- & 3. Conservatorship of Gertrude Martha Tejano
26PR00110
Appointment of Conservator
Request for Fees
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Absent objection, the petition of Heidi Darling, as conservator of the person and estate, is GRANTED with medical powers pursuant to Probate Code [PrC] §2355. Special powers requested under PrC §2356.5, the authority to authorize placement in a secure facility and the authority to consent to the administration of medications for the care and treatment of a Major Neurocognitive Disorder, are granted.
Bond remains set at $242,000.00.
The matter is SET on the August 6, 2026, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for review of compliance with the Probate Code sections listed below:
-Probate Code §1830 Notice of Conservatee’s Rights (Judicial Council Form GC-341) and a copy of the Order Appointing Conservator shall be mailed on or before the 30th day following the filing date of the Order Appointing Conservator.
-Probate Code §2352.5 Confidential Conservator Care Plan – Part 1 and 2, shall be filed with the court within 120 days of the date of the court’s order appointing conservator.
-Probate Code §2610 Inventory and Appraisal (Judicial Council Form GC-040) shall be filed with the court within 90 days of appointment of conservator along with the notice of how to file an objection (Judicial Council Form GC-042).
Conservator is directed to pay the court investigator assessment of $600.00 within 30 days, payable to the Sonoma County Superior Court, in care of the Probate Division. Please include the case number and name of the conservatorship.
If the conservator complies with all requirements above, no appearance shall be required, and a new case management conference date shall be set for one month after the first accounting is due for accounting status.
_______
The petition of Heidi Darling for an Order Authorizing Payment of Fees on Account is APPROVED. Conservator is authorized to receive periodic payments of up to two (2) hours per month, not to exceed $250.00 each month, beginning for a period from the date of appointment and continuing for a period not to exceed 12 months, until further order of the Court.
- Conservatorship of Faramarz Kiani
26PR00166
Appointment of Conservator
Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCES REQUIRED as the proposed conservatee has indicated he wishes to attend the hearing. Appearances may be in person or by Zoom. The proposed conservators shall arrange for the proposed conservatee’s appearance.
Absent objection, the petition of Fouad Kiani, as conservator of the person and estate, is GRANTED with medical powers pursuant to Probate Code [PrC] §2355. The special power requested under PrC §2356.5, the authority to consent to the administration of medications for the care and treatment of a Major Neurocognitive Disorder, is granted.
The request to authorize conservatee’s placement in a secure perimeter facility for a Major Neurocognitive Disorder is DENIED.
The request for authority to sell the proposed conservatee’s real property without court confirmation, pursuant to PrC §2590, is CONTINUED to May 29, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. As the proposed conservatee objects to the sale of his real property, the Sonoma County Public Defender is directed to meet with him and provide an update to the Court in writing filed at least seven days prior to the next hearing.
The Order has been revised to conform to the Court’s ruling.
Bond is SET at $2,019,860.00.
The matter is SET on the August 6, 2026, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for review of compliance with the Probate Code sections listed below:
-Probate Code §1830 Notice of Conservatee’s Rights (Judicial Council Form GC-341) and a copy of the Order Appointing Conservator shall be mailed on or before the 30th day following the filing date of the Order Appointing Conservator.
-Probate Code §2352.5 Confidential Conservator Care Plan – Part 1 and 2, shall be filed with the court within 120 days of the date of the court’s order appointing conservator.
-Probate Code §2610 Inventory and Appraisal (Judicial Council Form GC-040) shall be filed with the court within 90 days of appointment of conservator along with the notice of how to file an objection (Judicial Council Form GC-042).
Conservator is directed to pay the court investigator assessment of $600.00 within 30 days, payable to the Sonoma County Superior Court, in care of the Probate Division. Please include the case number and name of the conservatorship.
If the conservator complies with all requirements above, no appearance shall be required, and a new case management conference date shall be set for one month after the first accounting is due for accounting status.
- Conservatorship of Larrick Lloyd McDowell
26PR00309
Appointment of Temporary Conservator
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The petition for temporary conservatorship of the person and estate is DENIED. No exigent circumstances have been established to warrant a temporary conservatorship.
The matter remains SET on May 15, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12, for Appointment of Conservator.
- Conservatorship of Scott M. Burdick
SPR69495
Account & Report
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The matter is SET on Thursday, December 9, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12, for the biennial review and report of the court investigator.
On February 4, 2026, the Court ordered the conservator to file Notice of Change of Address or Other Contact Information (Judicial Council Form MC-040), due to the change in conservator’s phone number.
The Court shall address compliance with filing of MC-040 at the next hearing.
- Conservatorship of Madeline H. Martinez
SPR096804
Attorney’s Fees
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The Amended Petition for Attorney’s Compensation is APPROVED.
The matter remains SET on the April 16, 2026, case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12, for status of final account and report.
***End of Tentative Rulings***