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 63 “Zoom” Online

To Join Department 63 “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 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.

Tentative Rulings

October 9,  2026 at 9:30 a.m.

  1. Conservatorship of Sharon Zanassi
    25PR00083
    Account & Report

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The matter is CONTINUED to November 13, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 63, to allow the required time for service of the Notice of Filing an Inventory and Appraisal [Judicial Council Form GC-042], filed and served on September 24, 2026.

 

  1. Conservatorship of Marissa Gerardo
    26PR00974
    Review

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The matter is CONTINUED to December 4, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 63, for status of a new Order and Letters for Sonoma County.

 

  1. & 4. Conservatorship of Terence O’Donnell
              SPR79458
              Appointment of Co-Conservator

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The petition to add Abigail Ann Rose, to serve alongside Katherine O’Donnell, as co-conservators of the person, with medical powers pursuant to Probate Code [PrC] § 2355, and co-conservators of the estate, is APPROVED.

The Request and Order for Waiver of Accounting, for the period of August 8, 2012 through September 4, 2026, is APPROVED.

The matter is SET on the February 11, 2027, case management conference calendar, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63, for filing of the following documents:

(1)    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.

Form GC-341 must be served on all required parties, including the Sonoma County Public Defender. The original GC-341 form, with completed Proof of Mailing, shall be filed with the Court.

(2)   Probate Code § 2352.5: Confidential Conservatorship Care Plan (Judicial Council Forms GC-355 and GC-356), shall be filed with the court within 120 days of the date of the Court’s Order Appointing Conservator.

If the required documents are filed at least seven (7) days prior to the hearing, and satisfactory, the matter will be dropped, and a new hearing will be set for status of account, or waiver of account, one year after Letters of Successor Co-Conservator are issued.

 

  1. Conservatorship of Fredericka Anne Coleman
    SPR82068
    Account & Report

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Despite irregularities, the Sixth and Final Accounts and Reports of Conservator and Trustee, are APPROVED.

Attorney fees, including for Conservator/Trustee’s former attorney, are approved in the amounts prayed.

Conservator and Trustee fees are approved in the amounts prayed.

Conservator and Trustee’s request to withhold $2,500.00 in reserve is approved.

Upon the payment of all court-ordered fees and costs, the balance of the estate shall be distributed to the Trustee, or to the successor Trustee, of the Trust for Colin Coleman as established by the Fredericka Anne Coleman Revocable Trust.

Upon the filing of an Ex Parte Petition for Final Discharge and Order,  Conservator/Trustee shall be discharged and her bond exonerated.

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 Alexander Herbert Allen
    SPR09549
    Account & Report

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. As no supplement was filed at least 10 days prior to this hearing, as invited by the Court on September 11, 2026, in support of the conservator’s requests for confirmation of authority to continue to buy and sell securities, and for authorization to hire an investment manager, the requests are DENIED without prejudice.

The conservator is directed to submit an order that conforms to this ruling.

The matter remains set on the August 31, 2028 case management calendar, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63, for status of account.

 

***End of Tentative Rulings***