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.
Tentative Rulings
Honorable Jennifer V. Dollard
May 9, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
- Conservatorship of Stephen Leo Worts
25PR00084
Appointment of Conservator
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The Court has been advised that the proposed conservatee does not wish to attend the hearing. Petition is APPROVED. Deborah Rae Huberty is appointed Conservator of the person and estate.
The matter is SET on the September 11, 2025, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 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 – Part 1 (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).
Petitioner is directed to file an ex parte application for an order setting bond.
Petitioner is directed to pay to the Office of the Court Investigator the amount of $600.00 within 30 days of this order.
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.
- Conservatorship of Louis Broughton Crowe
25PR00241
Appointment of Conservator
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The matter is CONTINUED to June 20, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12 to allow time for Petitioner to cure the deficiencies listed in the Probate Examiners Notes filed on May 1, 2025.
Petitioner is directed to file an amended petition, including Notice of Hearing for the new hearing date, and Proof of Service by Mail. Additionally, the following documents are still outstanding:
(1) Capacity Declaration (GC-335);
(2) Attachment to Capacity Declaration (GC-335A);
(3) Confidential Declaration on Medical Ability to Attend Hearing (GC-325); and,
(4) the Citation issued on March 5, 2025, has not been completed and returned to the Court for filing. An amended Citation with the new hearing date of June 20, 2025, must now be obtained, served and returned for filing.
All supplemental documents must be filed no later than June 6, 2025.
- Conservatorship of Robert Terry
25PR00413
Appointment of Temporary Conservator
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The Court has been advised that the proposed conservatee does not wish to attend the hearing. The request for temporary conservatorship is DENIED. There are no exigent circumstances warranting establishment of a temporary conservatorship.
The Court also notes that venue in this county is not established. The proper county for commencement of a conservatorship is the county in which the proposed conservatee resides [Probate Code §2201(a)].
- Conservatorship of Margaret G. Rossbach
SPR091929
Account & Report
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The Fourth and Final Account and Report is APPROVED.
All remaining conservatorship assets shall be transferred to Casey Torres, Trustee of the Margaret G. Rossbach 2002 Living Trust, by small estate affidavit under Probate Code § 13100.
Petitioner is directed to pay to the Office of the Court Investigator assessment fees in the amount of $2,400, for review of the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Accounts, within 30 days.
The conservatorship estate is terminated effective immediately upon the transfer of remaining conservatorship assets to the Trustee of the Trust. Petitioner is directed to file an ex parte petition for final discharge and order.
***End of Tentative Rulings***