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.    

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To Join Department 23 “Zoom” Online

• Navigate to website: https://sonomacourt-org.zoomgov.com/j/1608254529
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To Join Department 23 “Zoom” By Phone:

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Guide for Participating in Court Proceedings via Zoom for Dept 23:

• 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.
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• 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.
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• 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 Tommie Cazel
   24PR00923
   Appointment of Conservator

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Matter is CONTINUED to February 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Petitioner is directed to file and serve an amended petition, amended capacity declaration, and revised proposed order, pursuant to the Memorandum of Court Investigator filed on December 11, 2024.

2. Conservatorship of Ronald White
   SPR092717
   Account & Report

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The request to waive accountings for the periods of March 7, 2024 through April 4, 2024 and April 5, 2024 through July 26, 2024, are GRANTED.

Fees requested for the services of the Conservator are approved in the amount prayed.

Fees requested for the services of Attorney for Conservator are approved in the amount prayed.

Petitioner is directed to pay the Office of the Court Investigator in the amount of $600.00 within 30 days from the date of this order.

The request to distribute the remaining balance of the estate to the conservatee’s heirs through a small estate affidavit, pursuant to Probate Code Section 13100, et seq., is approved.

Upon the filing of an Ex Parte Petition for Final Discharge and Order, the conservator shall be discharged.

3. Conservatorship of Douglas Bickford
   SPR093527
   Review

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The conservatorship shall continue without modification.

The Request for Waiver of Accounting for the period of September 19, 2022, to September 18, 2024, is GRANTED.

Petitioner is directed to pay the Office of the Court Investigator in the amount of $600.00 within 30 days from the date of this order.

Matter is SET on the Case Management Conference Calendar of November 19, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12, for status of account and report or, if applicable, Request and Order for Waiver of Accounting. If an account and report, or Request and Order for Waiver of Accounting (Judicial Council Form GC-410), is filed at least seven (7) days prior to the hearing, the matter will be dropped.

4. Conservatorship of Laura Kish Moore
   SPR095357
   Account & Report

Tentative Ruling: At the November 1, 2024 hearing, Mary DeWaters appeared and orally objected.  She was ordered to file and serve in writing any objections to the Second Account and Report by December 6, 2024.  As no objections were filed by that date they are deemed waived.  California Rule of Court Rule 7.801.

The second and final account and reports are APPROVED.

Fees for the services of the conservator are approved in the amount of $14,085.50.                                                                                                                                                                      

Fees and costs for the services of the attorney for the conservator are approved in the amount prayed.

The request for conservator to pay herself up to two (2) hours of compensation to close the conservatorship and distribute the remaining conservatorship estate to the conservatee’s trust is approved.

The request for conservator to pay her attorney up to two (2) hours of compensation to close the conservatorship and distribute the remaining conservatorship estate to the conservatee’s trust is approved.        

Petitioner is directed to pay the Office of the Court Investigator the amount of $1,800.00 for previously deferred and current investigative fees. Fees are to be paid within 30 days from the date of this order.

The conservator is authorized to distribute the remaining conservatorship estate through a small estate affidavit to the conservatee’s trust.

Upon filing an Ex Parte Petition for Final Discharge and Order, the conservator shall be discharged, and the surety on the bond shall be exonerated.

The Court will sign the proposed Order submitted on December 4, 2024.

5. Conservatorship of Susana Shreve
   SPR095624
   Account & Report

Tentative Ruling: The Second Account and Report is APPROVED.

The request that the Court ratify and approve the monthly periodic compensation paid to the conservator in the amount of $1,065.00 for the period of July 6, 2023, through February 15, 2024, is approved.

The request that the Court continue to authorize the conservator to receive monthly periodic compensation of up to three hours per month at her current hourly rate of $140 an hour is approved.

The bond shall be increased to $57,000.00.

The conservator is directed to pay the Office of the Court Investigator fees in the amount of $600.00 within 30 days.

The matter is SET for review on Thursday, December 17, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., in Department 12 for status of accounting.  If the third account and report has been filed at least seven (7) days prior to the hearing, no appearances shall be required.

6. Conservatorship of Madeline H. Martinez
   SPR096804
   Sale of Property

Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCES REQUIRED regarding the request to sell the conservatee’s former residence.

***End of Tentative Rulings***