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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
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  • 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

September 4,  2026 at 9:30 a.m.

  1. Conservatorship of Martha Ann Wormbrand
    25PR00297

    Account & Report

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

Despite irregularities, the First Account and Report of Conservator is APPROVED.

The matter is SET on the July 20, 2028, case management conference calendar, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63, for status of account. If the Second Account is filed at least ten days prior to the hearing, no appearances shall be required.

 

  1. Conservatorship of Jonathan Purcell
    26PR00790

    Appointment of Conservator

Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The Court has been informed that the proposed conservatee objects to the conservatorship and he wishes to attend the hearing. Appearances may be in person or by Zoom. The petitioner shall arrange for his appearance.

 

  1. Conservatorship of Kimberly Ann Sproat
    26PR00806

    Appointment of Conservator

Tentative Ruling:  NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  The Petition for appointment of Amy Katherine Sproat Randal as conservator of the person with medical authority pursuant to Probate Code [PrC] §2355, and conservator of the estate, is APPROVED.

Bond is set at $292,000.00.

Conservator is also granted the following special powers pursuant to PrC §§ 2351-2358:

The authority to place the conservatee in a residential care facility for the elderly or a skilled nursing facility.

The authority to sell the conservatee’s mobile home, subject to court confirmation.

The matter is SET on the January 7, 2027, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63 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 Conservatorship Care Plan (Judicial Council Form GC-355) 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).

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. 

If the conservator complies with all requirements above, no appearances 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.

 

  1. Conservatorship of Larry N. Bieber
    SPR71406

    Account & Report

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The required documents have been received and reviewed and are satisfactory.

The Twelfth Account and Report of Conservator is APPROVED.

The matter is SET on the May 25, 2028, case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63, for status of account. If the Thirteenth Account and Report is filed at least ten days prior to the hearing, no appearances shall be required.

 

  1. Conservatorship of Terence O’Donnell
    SPR79458

    Appointment of Co-Conservator

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

The matter is CONTINUED to October 9, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 63, to allow time for the conservator to correct the deficiencies listed in the Confidential Report of Court Investigator, filed on August 26, 2026. At the June 24, 2026 hearing, the Court ruled that compliance with filing the required documents would be reviewed at the April 28, 2028 biennial review hearing; however, in light of the subsequent petition for appointment of co-conservator, the Court now directs these documents to be filed at least seven (7) days prior to the next hearing.

The hearing currently set on April 28, 2028, for the biennial review and report of the court investigator, is DROPPED from calendar.

 

  1. Conservatorship of Vanessa Bardella
    SPR095412

    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 costs are approved as prayed.

Bond is reduced to $609,000.00.

The matter is SET on the July 20, 2028, case management conference calendar, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63, for status of account. If the Fourth Account, or Request and Order for Waiver of Accounting, is filed at least ten days prior to the hearing, no appearances 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. 

 

           

***End of Tentative Rulings***