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.

1. Conservatorship of Tommie Cazel
   24PR00923
   Review

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

The matter is SET on May 12, 2028, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12, for the biennial review and report of the court investigator.

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.  However, if a fee waiver, based on the financial situation of the conservatee, is granted within 30 days, the fees shall not be payable.

2. Conservatorship of Richard S. Martin, Sr.
   26PR00434
   Appointment of Temporary Conservator

Tentative Ruling:  Matter is off calendar.  This Department issued a recusal of itself in this matter on May 20, 2026.  A new hearing date will be assigned.

3. Conservatorship of Daniel Borbely
   26PR00584
   Appointment of Temporary Conservator

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The Petition for Appointment of Temporary Conservatorship is DENIED. Primarily because the proposed conservator and proposed conservatee are located in Washington State, the Court Investigator was unable to meet with the conservatee, and unable to advise him of his rights.  There is also no proof of service as ordered by the Court when this matter was set.  Fundamentally, the fact all parties are now located in Washington State presents an impediment to this Court’s ability to perform its functions in connection with the petition.  A temporary conservatorship in Washington state, or the equivalent, is likely the remedy best suited to these facts.  The Court notes it would not grant authority to sell the residence of the proposed conservatee in connection with temporary letters, and to the extent the need to generate funds for the support of the conservatee is an important component in the request for the temporary conservatorship, that would not be accomplished by a temporary conservatorship.  The Court has reviewed the supplemental information filed on May 15, 2026, but still finds insufficient showing of exigent circumstances warranting a temporary conservatorship.

The matter remains SET on July 10, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12, for the hearing on Petition for Appointment of Conservator.

4. Conservatorship of Dylan Moncayo
   SPR094647
   Waiver of Account

Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The Court has been advised that the conservatee wishes to attend the hearing. The conservator shall arrange for the conservatee’s appearance. Appearances may be made in person or by Zoom.

The Request and Order for Waiver of Account, for the period of September 12, 2023 through September 11, 2025 is APPROVED.

In light of the information received that the conservatee wishes to terminate the conservatorship, the matter is CONTINUED to Friday, August 7, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12, to allow time for the Public Defender to meet with their client and discuss the possibility of filing a petition for termination and to report to the Court. The report of counsel shall be filed and served at least ten days prior to the next hearing, unless a petition is filed by that time.

***End of Tentative Rulings***