Skip to main content.

Notice of Court closure Thanksgiving:

The court will be closed Thursday and Friday November 27 & 28 for Thanksgiving Holiday. 

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

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

November 21, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.

  1. Conservatorship of Jessica Lynne Silva
    25PR00818
    Appointment of Conservator

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. In light of the Request for Dismissal filed on November 12, 2025, the matter is DROPPED from calendar.  

  1. Conservatorship of James L. Patton
    SPR88906
    Review

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  The petition of Linsey Dunn for appointment as successor conservator of the estate is APPROVED with the powers requested conditioned on the resignation of the current conservator being submitted to the Court.  The resignation may be simply filed in the record by the current conservator without further hearing.  Once filed, Petitioner is then directed to submit an amended Order that includes Attachment 24, specifying Probate Code §2590 powers, as requested in the Third Amended Petition. Petitioner is also directed to then submit amended Letters of Conservatorship for the person and estate.

Bond is SET in the amount of $100,000.00.

The petition of Linsey Dunn for appointment as successor trustee presently set for hearing on January 9, 2026 is CONTINUED to January 16, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Dept. 12 to be heard concurrently with the current trustee’s fifth account and report.

The matter of Heidi Darling’s Fifth Account & Report of Trustee remains SET on January 16, 2026.  The Request and Order for Wavier of Accounting filed November 19, 2026 is SET to be heard on the same date and time.

The Court retains jurisdiction for the purpose of settling the accounts of the current conservator, Heidi Darling, upon resignation or upon termination, pursuant to Probate Code §2630.

Petitioner is directed to pay the court investigator assessment of $600.00 within 30 days, payable to the Sonoma County Superior Court, in care of the Probate Division. Please include the case number and name of the conservatorship.

  1. Conservatorship of Maria Dolores Rodriguez
    SPR096077
    Account & Report

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

The Second Account & Report of Conservator is APPROVED.

Fees for Conservator’s Attorney are approved in the amount prayed.

Bond is reduced to $20,000.00.

Matter is SET on the June 11, 2027 case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of account. If the Third Account & Report is filed at least seven (7) days prior to the hearing, no appearances will be required.

The $600.00 assessment fee for the services of the court investigator is deferred.

*End of Tentative Ruling*

Was this helpful?

Yes No
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Was this helpful?