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:

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To Join Department 12 “Zoom” Online

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

July 10, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.

  1. Conservatorship of Gail Ellen Urge
    24PR00673
    Waiver of Account & Report

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. After reviewing the Statements of Issues filed on behalf of the conservatee and by the conservator, the Court is satisfied that the conservatorship shall continue without modification.

The matter remains set on the January 13, 2028, case management conference calendar, at 3:00, for status of accounting. Please note, the Courtroom has changed from D12 to D63. If an account, or request to waive an accounting, is filed at least seven (7) days prior to the hearing, no appearances shall be required.

         

  1. Conservatorship of Martha Ann Wormbrand
    25PR00297
    Review

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

The matter remains set on September 4, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. for the First Account and Report of Conservator of the estate, filed on July 1, 2026, and will be heard in Department 63.

         

  1. Conservatorship of Reiner Fritz Haessler
    26PR00531
    Appointment of Conservator

Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCES REQUIRED as the proposed conservatee has indicated he wishes to attend the hearing. Appearances may be made in person or by Zoom.

Counsel for the proposed conservatee is directed to meet with the proposed conservatee to discuss his objections.

This matter is CONTINUED to September 11, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 63. As the proposed conservatee objects to the conservatorship, pursuant to local rule 6.2 (F)(2), the parties are directed to meet and confer and make a reasonable and good faith attempt to informally resolve the controversy at a face-to-face conference (which is deemed to include video platforms such as Zoom), if possible, otherwise by telephone conference. If the matter has not been resolved, the parties shall each file statements of issues no later than seven (7) court days before the continued hearing date pursuant to Local Rule 6.2 (F)(3).

Petitioner is directed to pay the court investigator assessment of $600.00, within 30 days, payable to the Sonoma County Superior Court. Please include the case number and name of the conservatorship and send payment to the Probate Clerk’s office. 

  1. Conservatorship of Joseph A. Casteel
    SPR095175
    Account & Report

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

The Third Account and Report of Conservator is APPROVED.

Attorney fees and reimbursement of costs advanced are approved in the amounts prayed.

Bond is increased to $320,000.00.

The matter is SET on the March 23, 2028, case management conference calendar, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63, for status of accounting. If the Fourth Account and Report has been filed at least seven (7) days prior the hearing, no appearance shall be required.

The conservator is directed to pay the court investigator assessment of $600.00, within 30 days, payable to the Sonoma County Superior Court. Please include the case number and name of the conservatorship and send payment to the Probate Clerk’s office. 

         

5,6.  Conservatorship of Susana Shreve
SPR095624
Account & Report

Appointment of Successor Conservator

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The Third and Final Account of the conservator of the person and estate is APPROVED.

The petition for appointment of the Sonoma County Public Conservator, as successor conservator of the person and estate is GRANTED.

Bond is waived.

The Court accepts the resignation of Stella Rijeka as conservator of the person and estate. Bond is discharged.

The matter is SET on the October 14, 2027, case management conference calendar, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63, for status of account. If the first account and report of the successor conservator is filed at least seven (7) days prior to the hearing, no appearances shall be required.

The December 17, 2026, case management conference date, and the December 3, 2027, review date, are VACATED.

         

  1. Conservatorship of Shirley Virginia Turner
    SPR096389
    Account & Report

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The Third Account and Report of Conservator and the Fourth and Final Account of Conservator are APPROVED.

Conservator fees and reimbursement of costs advanced are approved in the amounts prayed, including the additional amount requested to finalize the conservatorship estate.

Attorney fees are approved in the amount prayed, including the additional amount requested to finalize the conservatorship estate.

The conservator is directed to pay the court investigator assessment of $600.00, within 30 days, payable to the Sonoma County Superior Court. Please include the case number and name of the conservatorship and send payment to the Probate Clerk’s office. 

Upon the filing of receipts and an Ex Parte Petition for Final Discharge and Order, after all court approved fees and costs are paid, the remaining balance of the conservatorship estate is to be distributed to the Administrator of the Estate of Shirley Virginia Turner, Case Number 26PR00068.

         

*End of Tentative Rulings*